Canada Emergency Student Benefit Rules

Summary#

The Canada Emergency Student Benefit Regulations set the rules for the temporary student support program created during the COVID‑19 pandemic. They came into force on May 10, 2020 and spell out who can get the benefit, how much they get, and for how long.

What it does#

• Defines which courses and schools count as a qualifying post‑secondary program (programs of at least 12 weeks at listed federal, Quebec or provincially recognized or Indigenous institutions).
• Expands eligibility to some high school students: a person who will graduate secondary school in 2020, has applied to a post‑secondary program that starts before February 1, 2021, and plans to enroll is eligible.
• Sets the benefit period for most students from May 10, 2020 to August 29, 2020, with special start dates for some graduating high school students:
  • If they graduated before May 10, 2020: May 10, 2020 to August 29, 2020.
  • If they graduate between May 10, 2020 and June 6, 2020: June 7, 2020 to August 29, 2020.
  • If they graduate on or after June 7, 2020 (up to December 31, 2020): July 5, 2020 to August 29, 2020.
• Sets income rules:
  • An amount of $1,000.01 is used in the rules that determine maximum allowable income.
  • Employment and self‑employment income is ignored for eligibility if it is $1,000 or less in the relevant four‑week application period.
• Sets the payment amounts:
  • $500 per week for a student with a dependant or a student with a disability (equivalent to $2,000 per four‑week period).
  • $312.50 per week for other students (equivalent to $1,250 per four‑week period).
• Caps total weeks of CESB at 16 weeks, minus any weeks the person already received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or the emergency response Employment Insurance benefit.
• Directs that applications and payments will be managed by the Canada Revenue Agency.
• The Regulations are deemed to have come into force on May 10, 2020.

Who's affected#

• Students enrolled in qualifying post‑secondary programs of at least 12 weeks at accepted institutions.
• Recent post‑secondary graduates who finished in 2020 and meet the program’s rules.
• Secondary‑school students graduating in 2020 who have applied to a post‑secondary program beginning before February 1, 2021 and plan to attend.
• Students with a disability and students with a dependant (they get the higher payment).
• People who already received CERB or the related EI emergency response benefit (those weeks reduce the maximum CESB weeks).
• The Canada Revenue Agency (will run applications and payments).

Why it matters#

• It gives short‑term cash to students who lost summer jobs or can’t find work because of the pandemic. That can help with rent, groceries and tuition planning.
• The higher amount for students with dependants or disabilities recognizes extra costs and caregiving responsibilities.
• The overlap rule with CERB/EI can reduce how many weeks a student can get under this program. That matters if someone already received other COVID‑related income support.
• The Government estimated the program would cost about $5.25 billion in 2020–2021, showing it was a sizable part of the COVID economic response.