Emergency Income Support Extended to 24 Weeks

Summary#

The final regulation Income Support Payment (Number of Weeks) Regulations fixes the total time someone can get the Canada Emergency Response Benefit at 24 weeks. It extended the earlier total of 16 weeks by an extra 8 weeks and came into force when it was registered on June 26, 2020.

What it does#

• Sets the maximum number of weeks for income support under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act to 24 weeks.
• Allows eligible workers to receive the benefit for up to an additional 8 weeks beyond the prior 16-week limit.
• The change took effect on the day the regulation was registered (June 26, 2020).

Who's affected#

• Workers who stopped working for reasons related to COVID‑19 and who meet the eligibility rules for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
• It is not targeted at employers or businesses; the government’s analysis said no small-business impacts are expected.
• If it’s unclear whether you qualify, you should check the eligibility rules for the benefit — this regulation only changes the total number of weeks available.

Why it matters#

• It gave people who were still unable to return to work more time to get income support during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
• The extra weeks could help people caring for family, isolating, sick with COVID‑19, or otherwise unable to work because workplaces were not yet safe.
• The extension aimed to reduce financial strain and support public-health directions to stay home while the economy reopened.