‘It is important that Yukoners are not placed in financial hardship as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic’
Yukon is implementing a law to ensure that its residents who will be receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will not experience a reduction in their Social Assistance benefits.
The Civil Emergency Measures Act will fully exempt CERB payments from the unearned income category from April to June 2020. Currently, CERB would qualify as unearned income and result in a reduction in the total amount of social assistance benefits under the province’s Social Assistance Regulation.
“It is important that Yukoners are not placed in financial hardship as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pauline Frost, minister of health and social services. “These changes, which align with recommendations from the Government of Canada, will make Yukon one of just two jurisdictions in Canada to fully exempt CERB payments from Social Assistance benefits.”
Yukon is also providing additional support for those receiving Social Assistance benefits who are still waiting to receive their CERB payments. Individuals in need of emergency financial support are encouraged to contact Income Support Services at 867-667-5674 or by email at [email protected].
In mid-April, the federal government announced it is expanding CERB to cover more Canadian workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Canadian HR Reporter article.
Under the new policy, the CERB will cover workers who earn up to $1,000 per month. It will also help seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
