Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday a definitive application timeline for students seeking government aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students and recent graduates will be able to access an online portal and apply for financial relief, beginning this Friday, May 15.
Prime Minister Trudeau confirmed the date during his daily address to Canadians from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) will provide students with $1,250 per month for up to four months, with an extra $750 per month for students with disabilities or dependents.
The CESB is part of a $9 billion emergency aid package from the government, geared towards helping students who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
With the application date now set, the prime minister encouraged students to preemptively head to Canada Revenue Agency’s website in preparation.
“If you haven’t already signed up for the ‘My Account’ on the CRA website, it’s worth doing this now so that the next steps go even quicker,” said Trudeau at his press conference.
The benefit is designed for students who are currently in post-secondary, those who are going to college in September, or anyone who graduated in December 2019. Any student who currently has a job and is making under $1000 per month is also eligible to apply. The payments from the CESB will be backdated to May 1 and will carry on through the month of August.
In addition to the CESB, the federal government had previously announced they were investing $291 million towards student researchers and graduate students as well. This money will go towards scholarships, fellowships and grants in an effort to enable these students to keep working.
For anyone volunteering during the pandemic, as opposed to working, the government also created the Canada Student Service Grant, which will provide those eligible with funding between $1000 to $5000 depending on hours.
Graham Cox
