Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
COVID-19 – Government income support and benefits

Definition

COVID‑19 – Government income support and benefits refers to the sum of benefits from various new and existing federal, provincial, and territorial programs intended to provide financial support to individuals affected by the COVID‑19 pandemic and the public health measures implemented to minimize the spread of the virus.

For the 2021 Census, the reference period for income data is the calendar year 2020, unless otherwise specified.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021 (100% data).

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Variable derived based on administrative tax and benefit records received from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Responses

Positive dollar value or nil

Remarks

See 'Remarks' under total income.

This variable consists of the followings:

• COVID‑19 – Emergency and recovery benefits
  • COVID‑19 – Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
  • COVID‑19 – Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
  • COVID‑19 – Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • COVID‑19 – Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
  • COVID‑19 – Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
• COVID‑19 – Enhancements to existing federal programs
• COVID‑19 – Provincial and territorial benefits

All the components of this variable, with the exception of COVID‑19 – Enhancements to existing federal programs, are included in the Government transfers not included elsewhere category of the income sources classification.

For additional information about COVID‑19 benefits, data collection method, coverage, reference period, concepts, data quality and intercensal comparability of the income data, please refer to the Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Related 2021 data products

• Census Program Data Viewer (CPDV) (98-507-X2021001)
• Distribution of COVID-19 reliefs to Canadians: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0093-01)
• Distribution of COVID-19 reliefs to Canadians: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0094-01)