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JAN., FEB., MAR. BIRTHDAYS GO FIRST

Out of work Canadians can apply for $2000 per month benefit starting Monday

Apr 5, 2020 | 5:28 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new details Sunday morning of how Canadians out of work due to COVID-19 can access a cash payment.

Applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will be accepted starting Monday, offering Canadians who have lost their jobs because of the crisis $2,000 per month.

It will take three to five days for the money to arrive by direct deposit or 10 days by mail, the PM noted.

Only those with birthdays in January, February and March can apply Monday. The rest of the months will go in order in groups of three on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before it opens to everyone on Friday.

Trudeau says this and other measures are being taken to prevent the system from crashing.

Trudeau was also asked what happens for students who have had their summer job cancelled who aren’t eligible or the CERB, nor EI.

“This is an issue we are very very aware of. We know we need to do more for young people,” he said. “We should have more to say in the coming days.”

Applications for the CERB can be submitted at Canada.ca.

(The Canadian Press)