Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
COVID-19 – Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

Definition

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) payments received during the reference period. This benefit was intended to provide income support for individuals who lost income due to being sick or needing to self‑isolate due to COVID‑19, or who have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID‑19.

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 is a component of the COVID‑19 – Emergency and recovery benefits, which is itself a component of Government transfers not included elsewhere.

The CRSB paid $500 per week of eligibility for a maximum period of 6 weeks. The benefit eligibility period was from September 27, 2020 through May 7, 2022.

The CRSB was available to residents in Canada who were unable to work for at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked because:

• they had or might have had COVID‑19
• they self‑isolated on the advice of their employer, a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government, or public health authority for any reason related to COVID‑19, or
• they have an underlying condition that in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority would make them more susceptible to COVID‑19

To be eligible for CRSB for a given period in 2020 or in 2021, an individual:

• must not have applied or received the following benefits for the same period
  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • short‑term disability benefits
  • workers' compensation benefits
  • Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
  • Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits
• had a minimum income of $5,000 from employment, net self‑employment or provincial benefit payments related to maternity or parental leave in 2019 or in 2020, or in the 12 months prior to the CRSB application

The CRSB was created to transition individuals from the expiring Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) which was in effect between March 15, 2020 and September 26, 2020.

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