Returning to work could mean returning the CERB

As COVID-19 concerns lessen, the province is allowing more and more businesses to open their doors.  As people return to work, it means some who were receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will no longer qualify for the $2000 monthly payments.

If you find yourself as one of those workers who has been recalled but has also been paid the CERB for time when you will be working, you may have to repay the benefit.

There is an exception for people earning less than $1000 per month, anyone in that position still qualifies.  But for most, being recalled to a full-time position will mean earnings above that level.

Knowing this would happen, the federal government is providing an avenue to proactively repay CERB benefits to which you are not entitled.

If you were mailed a physical cheque and have yet to deposit it, then you simply return it.  It’s also asked that you include a note about why you no longer qualify for the CERB as well as your Social Insurance Number of Temporary Tax Number.

If you already have the CERB payment in your bank account, then you have one option now, and one available to you in a week’s time.

As of today, you can mail a cheque back to the government.  Address it to “Receiver l for Canada” and include information related to why you no longer qualify and for which weeks you no longer qualify.  You should also include your Social Insurance Number or Temporary Tax Number.

Whether you have the cheque or need to write one of your own, you need to send it to this address:

Revenue Processing – Repayment of CERB
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 0C3

For anyone looking to make a CERB repayment online, you will have to wait until next Monday (May 11).  You will be able to find out how to submit a digital repayment by logging into the CRA My Account service.

CERB repayment is also necessary for anyone who should not have received it.  Numerous reports have emerged of people applying either in error of fraudulently.

Anyone in such a situation will ultimately have to repay whatever they got. The government hasn’t ruled out withholding future benefits (i.e. GST rebates, GIS payments) as a means to have the CERB payments returned.