Visual artists across Canada appreciate the tremendous work that the Federal Government has done to help our citizens in a time of great need. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a devastating global crisis, and the government’s swift leadership and response have been remarkable.
We were however concerned about the letters that many self-employed artists received in December, asking them to pay back Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB) payments. In many cases, artists received these letters based on the Government’s lack of clarity about eligibility requirements.
For several weeks, we have joined artist unions and associations to advocate for change and all of us at CARFAC are relieved by the Government’s announcement on February 9th:
that self-employed individuals who applied for CERB and would have qualified based on their gross income will not be required to repay the benefit, provided they also met all other eligibility requirements.
Some details on this announcement are available below, and we are sure there will be further information to come. We know that some outstanding issues may still exist, but news on this change in policy will provide a solution, and offer peace of mind, to the majority of artists that we have heard from on this issue. We thank the Government for listening to our concerns and making changes that will assist many artists from coast to coast to coast.
T180 CERB reimbursement application for self-employed individuals
If you’re self-employed, you may have based your CERB eligibility on your gross instead of your net self-employment income. If you meet the conditions for using gross self-employment income, you can keep the CERB. If you repaid the CERB, you can submit this form to apply for a reimbursement. Click here for more information.
Up-front verification measures for COVID-19 recovery benefits
As announced in October 2020, the CRA has implemented up-front verification measures for COVID-19 recovery benefits to help prevent fraudulent applications and ensure that those receiving the benefits are eligible. Beginning on May 31, 2021, the CRA will begin to gradually expand these up-front verification measures for individuals who have applied to the Canada Recovery Benefits. As a result of this verification, some applicants may be required to provide additional information to support their eligibility, potentially delaying the approvals process. For more information about the kind of documents that may be requested, please visit: If your application needs validation: Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) – Canada.ca.