Small earnings excluded from CERB eligibility

Summary#

The federal government put in place the Income Support Payment (Excluded Nominal Income) Regulations (SOR/2020-90) under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act. They say small amounts of employment or self‑employment income — up to $1,000 over the relevant period — will not count against eligibility for the income support payment. The regulations were made in mid‑April and published in the Canada Gazette on April 29, 2020.

What it does#

• Excludes any income from employment or self‑employment from being counted against CERB eligibility if the total received during the consecutive days a worker has ceased working is $1,000 or less.
• Applies to income received in respect of the consecutive days on which a person has ceased working (the regulatory text ties the exclusion to those consecutive ceased‑work days).
• The regulations came into force on the day they were made (the instrument shows signature on April 15, 2020 and registration on April 16, 2020; publication in the Gazette was April 29, 2020).

Who's affected#

• Workers who have stopped working because of COVID‑19 and who may still receive small amounts of pay.
• This includes people with employment income, contract work, or self‑employment income.
• It is aimed at those applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
• The text does not list other groups, so if you are unsure whether your specific income qualifies, that is not clarified in the regulation itself.

Why it matters#

• It lets people earn modest amounts (up to $1,000) without losing eligibility for CERB.
• That helps people who do occasional or short‑term work, get small contract payments, or receive partial pay while otherwise unable to work because of COVID‑19.
• The change reduces the risk that small earnings would push someone off emergency support and helps people meet basic expenses while public health measures remain in place.