We give a lot to those we love, not expecting anything in return sometimes. We often go out of our way to ensure our loved ones have a comfortable life.
At times, you may decide to miss work due to the peculiar needs of your older relatives. For instance, older people are more likely to fall ill from a Covid-19 infection. Hence, you may need to stay at home to care for your parents or grandparents when there is an outbreak.
To help citizens in situations such as these, the Canadian government created the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB). The scheme aims to ease the financial pressure on those who cannot work because they act as caregivers to their children or older ones who need supervised care.
That said, there are several eligibility requirements for the CRCB. You can learn more from Seasons Retirement about the eligibility of the caregiver benefit to know whether you qualify for the scheme or not.
After confirming your eligibility status, you will need to apply for the CRCB. In this article, we’ll be highlighting the necessary information to begin and complete your CRCB application.
Eligibility Criteria for Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit
Before you apply for CRCB, you must ensure that you are eligible to receive the benefit. Here are the conditions you must meet before starting your CRCB application:
● You cannot work for more than half of the regular weekly working hours because you have to care for your child (under the age of 12) or a family member who needs specialized care.
● The family member, who is being cared for, must be at home for any of the reasons below:
○ Their school or regular care home is shut due to Covid-19.
○ Their caregiver is unavailable because of Covid-19-related reasons.
○ The family member is ill with Covid-19 or shows Covid-19 symptoms.
○ The relative is at risk of severe health complications if infected with Covid-19.
○ They are advised to self-isolate by the government or a healthcare professional.
● You did not register for or receive any other financial benefit for the same period. These benefits may include:
○ Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).
○ Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB).
○ Workers’ compensation benefits.
○ Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
○ Short-term disability benefits.
○ Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits.
● You are a resident of Canada.
● You were present in Canada during the week being applied for.
● You are 15 years old and above.
● You possess a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
● Only one individual in your household is applying for the CRCB in the same week.
● You were not on paid leave during the one-week period.
● Your total income 12 months before the application date must be at least $5000.
When to Apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit
After confirming your qualification, you may submit your CRCB benefits application on the first Monday after the one-week period being applied for.
Bear in mind that if you remain unable to work for more than the initial one-week period, you will need to reapply, as CRCB applications do not renew automatically and must be submitted separately.
Furthermore, you can send in your application for the CRCB within 60 days after the one-week period being applied for has ended.
How to Apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit
Below are step-by-step instructions to guide your Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit application. So, if you have been wondering how to apply for CRCB, here’s how to go about it:
Step One: Sign in to your CRA MyAccount
The first step of the CRCB application is signing in to your CRA (Canada Revenue Service) MyAccount – an online portal that lets you access your income tax and benefit information.
However, if you don’t already have one, you can quickly register a MyAccount profile before applying for the caregiver benefit.
Step Two: Set up direct deposit
This step is for those who don’t have direct deposits with the Canada Revenue Agency. You can set up a direct deposit with the government body through your CRA MyAccount.
Although the direct deposit isn’t compulsory, it helps expedite the payment process after your CRCB application becomes successful.
Step Three: Create an application
After logging in to your CRA MyAccount and perhaps, setting up direct deposit, you can begin your application.
On your CRA MyAccount, click on ‘apply for Canada Recovery Benefits.’ Select the box next to ‘Apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit when the next page comes up.’
Step Four: Fill out the application form
On the next page, you will be required to fill out the application form with the necessary information and data. After uploading the required details and documents, complete your application by clicking the submit button.
If the Canada Revenue Agency is not satisfied with your input, they will request that you submit additional information. You can always log in to your CRA MyAccount to make a new submission.
What Happens After Applying for the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit?
After receiving a CRCB application, CRA officials will examine the submitted information to ensure credibility. Although this validation process typically takes 4 weeks, it can last longer (up to 8 weeks) if the provided data is deemed to require stricter verification.
Upon validation, the fate of the application will be decided. Whether approved or rejected, the decision will be communicated to the applicant.
Applicants can opt for a second review via their CRA accounts if their application gets rejected. Suppose they are still denied the caregiver benefit after stating why they should be reconsidered. In that case, applicants can appeal to the Federal Court for a judicial review 30 days after receiving the second review decision.
Roundup
If you have had to skip work to take care of your parents or grandparents in the past few weeks, the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB) could be a huge financial assistance. You should consider applying for it.
Fortunately, applying for the caregiver benefit isn’t much trouble. Follow the above step-by-step guidelines, and you should be done with your CRCB application in no time.