I am writing to address the latest limitations in the CERB package and how it has excluded a large population of self-employed people who have faced a significant reduction of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was under the impression that the CERB would provide financial relief for self-employed people who are facing reduced hours due to COVID-19. There are texts on several official government websites that had stated so.
“This taxable benefit would provide $2000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their jobs or significant income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic”
“For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact the government is introducing an emergency support benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5.0 billion in support of workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.”
I was disheartened to see in the news on Sunday evening that the CERB package is only going to be offered to self-employed citizens who receive no income during this time due to COVID and that anybody who has worked even a few hours a week will not qualify.
I am a self-employed musician who teaches piano at Wentworth Music and I have lost a significant reduction of over 75% of my monthly income due to COVID. As a musician, I have several income revenues including:
Facilitating for foundation Sing For Your Life: leading weekly Sing-a-longs for individuals aged 65+
Wedding Music and DJ Services
Teaching Piano at Wentworth Music
Live performances
I have lost all of these revenues due to COVID except for offering online piano lessons for my piano students; which 14 of my 51 students signed up for. I am now only able to teach piano 7 hours a week instead of 25.5 and have lost all other revenue income.
My income has significantly reduced to just a few hundred dollars a month, so it seems remarkably unfair that if I didn’t teach a few hours a week and had no income, I would receive $2,000/month from the CERB package and be in a much sounder financial position. I am now faced with challenges of not being able to pay rent and keep up with my monthly expenses based on my much lower wage and inability to find work elsewhere.
I speak for all others who are in similar positions to myself, those who are doing whatever it takes to secure even a small percentage of income and clients, we are now being penalized for our hard efforts.
I am pleading for a review of the CERB package and urging it to provide financial support for those who have lost a significant income due to COVID-19 as it had promised to provide.
Amanda Cawley