More than 800,000 ineligible people get CERB

[trimmer21]

Its a shyte show for employers. We have people who are calling in sick half the week and very likely claiming CERB as they are keeping their paycheck below the threshold for CERB entitlement. Attendance infractions through the roof ever since we returned to work, hard to motivate people to work when theres so much unregulated free cheese being tossed to everyone with their hands out.

They need to do a better job determining who needs CERB and who doesn't. My neighbours on a fixed income who didnt have any money to put towards a fence last year just built massive garden boxes and renovated their back yard a few weeks ago, obviously CERB money paying for it. Neighbours all around us upgrading things all at the same time and in the middle of a pandemic....hmmm.....

People I know who were unemployed/houseless/no real bills to pay before covid hit got the same payout as myself who has a house, a pregnant wife at the time and 2 young growing boys and I was laid off. Not really fair to see them get the same amount and blow it on partying and luxury items and myself being the responsible one barely had enough for diapers and formula, every penny was accounted for and I had to dig into a loan to keep afloat for 2 months. Very difficult to live off 500 a week in my circumstances.

Care to take a wild guess who they'll go after to clawback those CERB funds? I can guarantee 100% it won't be the unemployed/homeless you cited.

[MikePal]

Some more numbers starting to get published:

It was predominantly used by people who earned under $47,630 in 2019, figures from the Canada Revenue Agency show, but those higher up the income ladder also applied for the benefit program.


The $2,000-a-month Canada Emergency Response Benefit was a key part of the aid package the Liberals rolled out since March, paying out just over $81.6 billion in benefits to 8.9 million people until it ended at the start of October.

The CRA numbers show at least 114,620 people who earned between about $100,000 and $200,000 last year applied for the CERB. Another 14,070 people who had made more than $210,000 applied for the benefit.

Something dreadfully wrong with someone making over $200K applying for the Emergency Taxpayer Bail out...yet this report says there are over 14K of them.

from: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...lp/ar-BB1bb1tH

[73hunter]

Some more numbers starting to get published:



Something dreadfully wrong with someone making over $200K applying for the Emergency Taxpayer Bail out...yet this report says there are over 14K of them.

from: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...lp/ar-BB1bb1tH

Yes - perhaps morally wrong to apply,.....but hopelessly incompetent are those that APPROVED it

[rick_iles]

Some more numbers starting to get published:



Something dreadfully wrong with someone making over $200K applying for the Emergency Taxpayer Bail out...yet this report says there are over 14K of them.

from: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...lp/ar-BB1bb1tH

Well, when all someone needed to do was apply for the handout....what could possibly go wrong !! I know there was a big spike in overdose incidents around here!! People using CERB funds to buy dope.....who knew !!!

[MikePal]

I know there was a big spike in overdose incidents around here!! People using CERB funds to buy dope.....who knew !!!

I know the FN reservations have suffered great from just that...

[fishermccann]

Yes - perhaps morally wrong to apply,.....but hopelessly incompetent are those that APPROVED it

Absolutely. They were approved by bureaucrats , not Politian's.

[MikePal]

Absolutely. They were approved by bureaucrats , not Politian's.

But it was Politicians (you know who) that said (I'll paraprase) "we'll sort it out after..better to out it into the hands of those who need it now."

I'm curios to see what happens now that we've reached 'after'...so far it doesn't look good.

[410001661]

I believe you needed to submit your 2019 taxes before you qualified for CERB. I have heard of people getting around this but it was just a rumor (I have no definitive proof).

I know guys that were hit pretty hard because of COVID and this assistance was needed and well deserved. There will always be cases of abuse of the system (I know personally of a couple), and take comfort that the CRA will hone their craft and go after them for their money (plus interest) back. They owe that to the taxpayers. As it is there are a lot of people that do not feel confident of how the Gov't will pay for the COVID party - increased sales tax (15% to 18%), a new COVID tax, or some other creative income revenue stream. If taxes go up I believe that this will just lead to a larger and more advanced underground economy. As it is now I minimize cash side jobs to stay under the radar but in the last 4 jobs did we were offered cash payment in return of tax relief.

I know two guys that would qualify for the interest free business loans - borrow up to $40k interest free until December 31st 2022 with relief of up to 25% ($10k). Two farmers said no to this - even the free $10k out of principle. One of my partners opted for the loan and bought a much needed bucket truck that allowed him to diversify his electrical business. I have no problems what so ever with this either.

My issue is the CERB is not geared to your income. If you are an electrician making $100-$110k/year you will get the same as a someone who works in retail or waiting tables. This summer I heard of more businesses that could not find people to work because they could stay home and collect CERB and are perfectly content doing such. Now many of these people are in for a rude awakening when they get their 2020 tax bill. Again........I hope the CRA stay diligent on this to minimize our huge debt.

[MikePal]

I believe you needed to submit your 2019 taxes before you qualified for CERB. I have heard of people getting around this but it was just a rumor (I have no definitive proof).

From the link in the OP :

The issue earned a spot in the daily question period when the Conservatives asked about 823,580 recipients for whom the tax agency didn't have 2019 income information at the time it compiled the data.

That's likely to exceeed a million people when all is said and done. Imagine only ONE rule to get a check and they still screwed it up.

The problem...hopefully the CRA will act well before the next election so the sitting government, who's responsible, can do the dirty and charging them with fraud...that will go over well with voters

[Gilroy]

I am pretty confident the CRA is going to go after these folks who have abused the system. They do have a snitch line and it does not take to much to start an investigation.