Afraid to return to work? CERB eligibility at risk if you don't

Some Prince Edward Islanders are raising concerns about returning to work under the province's plan to ease back COVID-19 restrictions. But Malpeque MP Wayne Easter if they choose to stay home they could lose financial support from the federal government.

Kayla Savidant, co-owner ofLavish Hair and Beauty, says she's reluctant to return to work because she's concerned for her own health and for that of her clients. But she also says many in her industry, who she's been reaching out to,are concerned about qualifying for $500 per week under the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) if they don't return on the designated date.

Hairdressers are allowed to return to work May 22 under the province's reopening plan.

"I think a lot of people are very concerned that, we can apply for CERB, but when it comes to tax season, they can look at us as 'you refused to work, so you have to pay the money back,'" said Savidant.

"We've been trying to reach out to people to see what we're supposed to be doing in this situation. But a lot of our concerns seem to be swept under the rug right now."

Ineligible for CERB, with one exception

Easter, who chairs the parliamentary finance committee, said he's been hearing similar concerns from other workerssince P.E.I.unveiled its ease-back plan in late April.

He said the federal government's expectation is that if provincial public health officials determine it's safe for a business to reopen and itsemployees are able to return to work, they should.

According to Easter,a worker or business owner who disagrees with public health officialsdoesn't have a legitimate reason to stay off work and continue to draw CERB.

"If the province believes the right protocols are in placeto protect their safety, then really they should be going back to work," he said.

According to Easter, there is one exception.

"For somebody who may have a compromised health situation themselves, or in their home, thathas to be looked at differently," he said. "I do think they have an argument to say, 'in my situation, I really don't feel comfortable going back.'"

Easter saidthat's how federal officials are interpreting the rules around CERB eligibility,but acknowledges that interpretation is not layed out anywhere in writing.

He also saidit's not clear what willhappen if a worker chooses to stayhome and continues to receive benefit payments.

'Believe what they say'

Canadians are eligible for $500 per week for up to 16 weeks under CERB, and have to re-apply once a month.

As part of the application, they're required to attest to the fact they're out of work "for reasons related to COVID-19."

"I think we've tried to establish with the program, that we take people at their best in terms of their honesty, and believe what they say," said Easter."But there's no guarantees what happens down the road."

At a news conference Wednesday, P.E.I. Premier Dennis King said he didn't knowif Islanders would still be eligible for federal benefit payments if they decideto stay home.

Though he added, "I would certainly hope, and I would be lobbying hard to make sure they don't lose any of those benefits, if they choose to take a little bit longer to go back to work, dealing with the worldwide health pandemic that we are in."

Employment and Social Development Canada, the federal department responsible for CERB, did not respond to CBC's request for comment.

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