As many of you are aware, we have had a tough week for OPSEU Local 301 with a number of temporary layoffs being announced. In an effort to provide more information to our members we are providing you with a copy of the Letter of Understanding between OPSEU and the University as well as information on how to apply for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). A special thanks to our Chief Steward, Jeff Tomlinson, for pulling this information together.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your steward or a member of the Local Executive Committee.

Applying for CERB

CERB – Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (as at 24-Jun-2020)

Benefit:

$2000[1]/4wks to a maximum of 24 weeks for workers who have lost work due to Covid-19

Eligibility:

-        Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;

-        Who have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020;

-        Who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and,

-        Who have not quit their job voluntarily.

-        Cannot have earned more than $1000 during the first 14 days of your first 4-week benefit period.

-        Cannot have earned more than $1000 during the entirety of any subsequent 4-week benefit period.

How to apply:

-        If eligible for Employment Insurance (EI): apply through Service Canada

-        https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

-        You will receive a 4 digit access code through email or lettermail

-        To continue receiving benefits you must file EI reports either biweekly (paid $1000 every 2 weeks) or every 4 weeks (paid $2000 every 4 weeks)

o   Internet Reporting Service: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-internet-reporting.html

o   Telephone Reporting Service: 1-800-531-7555

o   You can check when reports are due through your My Service Canada Account

-        If ineligible for Employment Insurance: apply through the Canada Revenue Agency

-        https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html

-        If you prefer to apply over the telephone, you can dial the CRA’s automated service:

o   1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041

-        You will need to confirm

o   Social Insurance Number (SIN)

o   Postal Code

o   Eligibility Period[2]

§  For 5-Jul-20 to 1-Aug-20, you can apply starting 6-Jul-20

§  For 2-Aug-20 to 29-Aug-20, you can apply starting 3-Aug-20

§  For 30-Aug-20 to 26-Sep-20, you can apply starting 31-Aug-20

- You will receive your payments through direct deposit in 3 days or by cheque in 10 days.

Links:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html

[1] This is taxable income, but it is not deducted at the source – you need to report it when you file for 2020 and it will be billed on your tax assessment. If you are financially able to do so, you can set up the CRA as a payee through online banking and pay a portion of each deposit as you receive it. You can estimate your tax rate by inputting your employment income (salary minus layoff period) & total CERB benefit into this calculator: https://simpletax.ca/calculator – the average tax rate would be the amount you would likely need to pay to CERB.

[2] You must reapply for the benefit for each eligibility period in order to continue receiving it.

Letter of Understanding

Letter of Understanding - Unsigned

If you would like to see the signed version, please email info@opseu301.ca. The only difference is the signatures.