Many Canadians who rely on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit are waking up to empty or negative bank balances on Thursday.
Social media has been inundated with people concerned that their September CERB payment hasn’t been deposited.
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Y95 has reached out to the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, and Media Relations for the Minister of Finance for information.
Christopher Doody of CRA Media Relations did not address a question related to the delay, explaining that the Agency “ aims to have CERB payments made by direct deposit issued within 3-5 business days of an application being received, and within 10 business days for payments by cheque. This is in line with our timeliness service standards for processing payments. The CRA expects that the vast majority of payments will be issued within this time frame.”
CERB beneficiaries are noting hour-long waits on hold with the Canada Revenue Agency, and no communication surrounding a reason for the delay.
CERB payments were initiated in March at the height of the COVID-19.
The taxable benefit provides $2,000 a month for workers who lost their income as a result of the pandemic.
It has been extended twice, with the program expected to wrap up at the end of the month.
