This product details the number of recipients of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program by week, for the period from the week starting March 15, 2020 to the week starting September 20, 2020. The  total and average number of weeks that recipients received benefits is also provided. The data are broken down by age group and sex and are provided at the Census Subdivision (CSD) and Census Tract (CT) geographic levels.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act passed on March 25, 2020 to provide income support for Canadian workers whose employment income has been disrupted by COVID-19. Through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) the Government of Canada provided a taxable benefit of $2,000 every 4 weeks for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers who lost income or stopped working due to COVID-19.