COVID Support for Individuals - May 25 2020

Canada Emergency Response Benefit

  • Program provides $2,000 per month ($500 per week) for up to 4 months.
  • Open to part-time and full-time employees and self-employed individuals who stopped working due to Covid-19
  • Must have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or the 12-month period preceding the application date.
  • If you have applied for EI, you will automatically be considered for this benefit.
  • If you do not qualify for EI, you may still qualify for this benefit.
  • To qualify, you must not earn more than $1,000 from employment or self-employment for the relevant claim period.
  • The application is open, and you must re-apply each month.
  • The benefit will be taxable on your 2020 personal income tax return.
  • You need to set up a CRA “My Account” (personal) and then apply for the benefit through there. To set up your account, have a copy of your most recent tax return (2019 if filed or 2018 if you have not yet filed your 2019 return) on hand and use this link:

Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

  • For those post-secondary students and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who do not qualify for CERB (above) or EI (below).
  • Covers May to August (summer work term)
  • $1,250 per 4 week period or $2,000 if you have a dependant or a disability

Employment Insurance

  • The EI program was already in place to support workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
  • Application is through the EI system and the maximum weekly EI benefit is $573 per week.
  • The government has temporarily waived the one week waiting period.
  • If you apply for EI and the benefit is less than the CERB, you will automatically be switched to the CERB program.

Other Programs

  • Federal government reduced required minimum RRIF payments
  • Those receiving GST credit payments should have already received a one-time additional GST credit payment. The benefit is based on your 2018 personal tax return which needs to have been filed to establish eligibility.
  • One-time additional payments will be made in May to Canada Child Benefit (CCB) recipients.
  • Canada Student Loan and Canada Apprentice Loan payments have been suspended until September 2020 with no accrual of interest.
  • Many financial institutions are able to negotiate mortgages and loans such as switching to interest-only payments. Consult your financial institution for details.
  • Nova Scotia Worker Emergency Bridge Fund is a supplemental program to the Federal CERB. The program offers a one-time $1,000 taxable (2020) payment. Details at:
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Privacy Policy

Bluenose Accounting (the “Firm”) is committed to maintaining the confidentiality, security and accuracy of your personal information. The Firm collects uses and discloses personal information related to its clients and employees to the extent required to provide requested services for those clients, to fulfill its professional responsibilities and operate its business. We are committed to protecting the privacy of information in our possession and control. To that end, the Firm has established a Privacy Policy to protect the privacy rights of its clients, employees and others. The Firm’s Privacy policy sets out principals and guidelines it follows in order to meet its privacy commitments and complying with provincial and federal privacy legislation. This policy relates to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the firm, its partners and employees.

What is Personal Information?

The firm defines personal information as any information that the firm receives as a part of servicing individuals, or indirectly, through clients that are organized as corporations, not-for profit organizations, charities or other like organizations in addition to information related to its employees and partners. Such information would include, but is not limited to, names, addresses, telephone number, age, sex, marital status, identifying numbers, education status and medical history. A more detailed definition can be found in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of Nova Scotia. The Firm only collects information required to provide the services requested and agreed upon. Such information is contained as required within filings with government agencies or as part of its working papers as required by professional standards, rules of professional conduct and regulation.

The Firm’s Commitment

The Firm has established and put into place policies and procedures designed to protect personal information. The firm has communicated to its partners and employees its policies with respect to privacy and has established responsibilities for all individuals with access to private information. The firm has designated Anthony Fielding Ph.D., CA (anthony@bluenoseaccounting.com) as its Privacy officer.

Consent

Information provided to us, including that collected from our website, is used solely for the purpose of the service(s) indicated and is often, but not always, set out in its engagement letter. Should you advise us at any time that you no longer consent to the use of the personal information that you have provided to us, we will take your information off our database.

Safeguards

The Firm protects the privacy of personal information in its possession by using security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. Such safeguards include physical restriction (locked premises and security systems) and electronic protection (password protection and encryption).

Legal Disclaimer

Although we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law when we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process.

Other Use of Your Information

Except as set out in this Privacy Policy, we do not make any other use of the personal information which you provide to us unless you have consented to its use for any other purpose. We do not sell or disclose your personal information to anyone, except as required by law.

Website

In using our website, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

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Terms of Use

The use of this web site is governed by the terms and conditions as set out below. By using this web site, you have agreed to be bound by these terms.

Copyright

The information contained within this site, including the underlying HTML, text, images and any other content is the property of Bluenose Accounting (the “Firm”). Any reproduction or redistribution of content of this site without the express written permission of the Firm is strictly forbidden.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this site is free of charge and is for information purposes only. Such information should not be relied upon or used as a basis for decisions. The Firm has made all efforts to maintain the accuracy of the content of this web site. Information provided on this web site is provided without any warranties of any kind. The Firm assumes no responsibility or liability for damages that may arise from the use of this site or of any information contained within.

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The Firm may provide external links to third party sites and some content provided on this site may actually be from third party sites. The Firm assumes no liability for the accuracy of third party information contained within this site or in those reached through links contained within this site. Any links are provided for information purposes only and are not to be construed as an endorsement by the Firm. The Firm has not reviewed or otherwise attempted to verify the accuracy of information contained within such sites.

The Firm assumes no responsibility or liability for damages that may arise from the use of these links including any computer security issues such as, but not limited to, viruses, Trojan horses or other disruptive code which may be downloaded or transferred from such linked sites.

Acknowledgement

By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as set out above. Any use of information contained within this site is not to be construed as professional advice and the use of such information does not relieve you from applying the standard of care and due diligence relevant to the use of such information contained in this web site. You are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy and reliability of all information contained within this web site.

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