Extended shutdown benefit for Canadian workers takes effect

The Government of Canada announced on Thursday that the expanded eligibility for the Canadian Workers’ Containment Benefits (PCTCC) is in effect.

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Canadians living in areas affected by lockdown or capacity restrictions can now access PCTCC.

The benefit will provide an income support of $300 per week to eligible workers directly affected by COVID-19-related containment measures that have caused a loss of 50% or more of their income. Workers in newly designated containment zones can request the benefit as early as Thursday, retroactively to December 19, 2021 through February 12, 2022.

The government says it is committed to ensuring Canadians have the support they need to deal with the impact of the evolution of the variable Omicron, while supporting the economic recovery.

The federal government added that cases of fraud and suspicious activities will continue to be monitored, and new controls have been put in place to protect the integrity of programs and ensure that only eligible Canadians receive benefits payments.

Currently, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut are included in the designated containment areas. This list will be updated as regional and interregional governments implement changes to the restrictions imposed by the Public Health Authority.

• You earned at least $5,000 in 2020, 2021, or in the 12 months prior to your application date;
• Submit a tax return for 2020;
• operating or providing a service in a designated containment area;
• She experienced one of the following consequences, either job loss, inability to exercise contracts as a self-employed person, or a decrease in average weekly income of at least 50% compared to the previous year, due to “living in a designated” containment zone.