COVID-19 Update
March 30th, 2020
To: USW Local 2009 members
If you were laid off or lost income because of COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits, EI regular benefits, and EI compassionate care and caregiving benefits.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
On March 25, 2020, the Federal Government announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which will provide income support payments to workers who lost income for reasons related to COVID-19, but do not qualify for EI. The CERB is a taxable benefit that will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months. Although the Federal Government has not released the specific details relating to the eligibility criteria and application process, the CERB is expected to cover workers (including contract workers and self-employed) who:
· have lost their job or face reduced hours as a result of COVID-19;
· are quarantined or sick with COVID-19;
· are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19;
· are with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures, and are unable to earn employment income; or
· are still employed but not receiving income as a result of COVID-19.
People who are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits should not apply to the CERB. If their EI benefits end before October 3, 2020 and they are unable to return to work due to COVID-19, they can apply for CERB once their EI benefits end.
An online application portal is expected to open on April 6, 2020. Payments under the CERB will be made within 10 days after the application has been received. The CERB will be paid every four weeks and will be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020. Information will be updated as details of the CERB is released. Click here for more information.
Employment Insurance - Sickness Benefits
Workers who are unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine may be eligible to apply for EI sickness benefits, which provides for a temporary income support for up to 15 weeks. If the employer offers paid sick leave or short-term disability program, workers should access those entitlements first before applying for EI sickness benefits. Workers who sustained an injury at the workplace including contracting COVID-19 should make a claim with WorkSafeBC. For workers who do not have paid sick leave or short-term disability benefits, they can apply for EI sickness benefits right away as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
To be eligible, a worker needs to show the following:
· they are unable to work for medical reasons;
· their weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week; and
· they have accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the past 52 weeks before the start of their claim or since the start of their last claim, whichever is shorter. This is known as the "qualifying period".
Workers who have not accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the qualifying period may be eligible for income support under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
Normally to qualify for sickness benefits, workers need to provide a medical certificate showing they are unable to work for medical reasons. In March 2020, the Federal Government announced medical certificates are no longer required from people claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine related to COVID-19. In addition, the one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined due to COVID-19 so that they can be paid for the first week of their claim. Workers who are unable to complete their claim for EI sickness benefits due to quarantine may apply later and have their EI claim backdated to cover the period of delay.
Generally, workers can expect to receive 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $573, but the exact amount and duration of benefits will depend on the workers' insurable earnings and expected date of recovery.
Employment Insurance – Regular Benefits
Workers who have lost their job because of COVID-19 but are ready, willing and capable of work may be eligible for EI regular benefits, which provides some temporary income support while they are looking for work.
To be eligible, a worker needs to show the following:
· they have been employed insurable employment;
· have lost their job through no fault of their own;
· have been without work and without pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks;
· have worked for the required number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of their last EI claim, whichever is shorter;
· is ready, willing and capable of working each day; and
· is actively looking for work (must keep a record of job search activities).
The number of insurable hours required will depend on the unemployment rate of the region in which the worker resides. For the Vancouver, Victoria and Abbotsford regions, the required insurable hours is 700.
Generally, workers can expect to receive 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $573, but the exact amount and duration of benefits will depend on the workers’ insurable earnings.
EI Compassionate Care and Caregiving Benefits
EI compassionate care and caregiving benefits are paid to people who have to take time off work to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. If the critically ill person requires care because of COVID-19, workers should consider applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (see above) as it might be difficult to obtain a medical certificate at this time.
To qualify for EI caregiving benefits, one must demonstrate that:
· they are a family member of the person who is critically ill or injured or needing end-of-life care, or are considered to be like a family member;
· their regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week because they needed to take time away from work to provide care or support to the person;
· they accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before the start of the claim, or since the start of their last claim, whichever is shorter;
· a medical doctor or nurse practitioner has certified that the person
Generally, workers can expect to receive 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $573, but the exact amount and duration of benefits will depend on the workers’ insurable earnings and the expected date that the critically ill or injured person will no longer require care.
There is no question, this is an incredibly stressful time for all of us. As a team, the Officers and Staff at USW Local 2009, are trying to respond personally to all inquiries and are seeking clarity from your employers as needed. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that all employers are taking every measure necessary to protect the health and safety of our members and their families.
Most importantly, we are asking all of our members to remain calm. The government's Health Ministry protocols that are being put in place are there for good measure. We need to focus on staying safe, practicing physical distancing, stay at home whenever possible and help those that are most vulnerable and cannot help themselves. Together we will survive this pandemic and together we will preserve our solidarity and unity that will enable us to manage the future.
In solidarity,
The Officers of USW Local 2009
Al Bieksa: President
Georgi Bates: Vice President
Scott McRitchie: Financial Secretary
Mike Duhra: Treasurer