At the height of the pandemic, the federal government sent money to nearly nine million Canadians in the form of benefits from the Canada Emergency Response Program (CERB).
Now, two years later, the Tax Agency of Canada (CRA) has revised its books and wants some of that money back.
Sarah Mercer, of Newmarket, Ont. I just received an email telling him that he was reimbursing some of his CERB benefits, but he won’t know how long until he receives a letter from the CRA in the mail.
“It’s ridiculous,” Mercer told CTV News Toronto. “I’ve been working for 20 years and I’ve always paid my taxes on time and the government will finally do something to help me. At that time it was a relief. And then two years later, they tell me I have to return the money. “It’s like, ‘Ui.’
Janice Bowers of Stoney Plain, Alta. he applied for unemployment medical insurance due to an injury at the start of the pandemic, but instead received payments from the CERB.
Bowers has just been notified that she will have to pay $ 1,000 in CERB benefits, which she says will be difficult with her husband receiving a disability pension and working part-time.
“With the price of gas and my mortgage payment going up today, it will be a struggle with rising food prices and everything else,” he said.
Many Canadians who received CERB benefits are still struggling, and while some are being asked to pay between $ 1,000 and $ 2,000 again, others may owe much more.
Laurie Campbell, director of financial welfare services for clients at Bromwich & Smith, a licensed insolvency trustee, said they see more clients struggling financially due to inflation, rising bills and health issues.
Campbell said many Canadians will have difficulty returning funds.
“The federal government initially gave $ 2,000 before qualifying anyone, so a lot of people only owe that $ 2,000, but there are people who charged the CERB for the whole period and could owe tens of thousands of dollars,” he said. Campbell.
CTV News Toronto asked the CRA why payments are being requested now, and in a statement, a CRA spokesman said: “NoRs (redetermination notice) are sent to people who received a payment, but who they later decided not to be eligible for one or more benefit periods received ”.
The CRA said it will accept payments over time and will not charge interest, but many Canadians will still find it difficult to get the money.
Doug Gablehaus, president of CPS Accounting Services in Calgary, said, “People shouldn’t be asked to return that money. It’s only two thousand dollars.”
Some of those who are being asked to return the funds say the federal government should have done a better job of sharing the benefits, so now they would not be asked to return them.
“I don’t know how I can pay for that right now. I’m out of work, I’m not even sure when I’ll be back and that was a real shock,” Mercer said.
Bowers said, “Why am I paying for your mistakes, why are we all paying for your mistakes?”
The CRA said it is willing to work with Canadians who applied for CERB benefits in good faith and will deal with taxpayers who owe money on a case-by-case basis.