Pay your COVID-19 benefit debt over time
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Collection of COVID-19 Overpayments
Pay your COVID-19 benefit debt over time
If you cannot pay your debt in full, the CRA can help you set up a payment arrangement. A payment arrangement is an agreement with the CRA to pay your balance in several regular payments over a period of time.
On this page
Set up a payment arrangement
If you need to repay a COVID-19 benefit overpayment, the CRA will work with you to find the best way to pay your debt through a payment arrangement.
Steps to help you set up an arrangement
-
Calculate your monthly income and expenses
Use the personal income and expense worksheet to determine what you can afford to pay on a regular basis.
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Call the CRA to set up your payment arrangement
You must call to set up a payment arrangement or discuss your options if you are unable to pay.
The number you call depends on who issued your COVID-19 benefit payments:
For COVID-19 benefits received from the CRA
Set up a payment arrangement for:
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with the CRA
- Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
- Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)
Call from within Canada and the U.S.
- Telephone number:
- 1-833-253-7615
- Hours:
-
Dedicated hours
Date Hours Monday to Friday 7 am to 8 pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
- TTY number:
- 1-800-665-0354
- Hours:
-
Dedicated CRB number hours (phone-1)
Date Hours Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm (local time) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
Call from outside Canada and the U.S.
The CRA accepts collect calls by automated response. Contact your service provider or operator to initiate the collect call.
- Telephone number:
- 1-613-221-3002
- Hours:
-
Dedicated CRB number hours (phone-1)
Date Hours Monday to Friday 7 am to 8 pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
For CERB benefits received from Service Canada
Set up a payment arrangement for:
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with Service Canada
Call from within Canada and the U.S.
- Telephone number:
- 1-866-864-5823
- Hours:
-
Dedicated hours
Date Hours Monday to Friday 7 am to 8 pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
- TTY number:
- 1-800-665-0354
- Hours:
-
Dedicated CRB number hours (phone-1)
Date Hours Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm (local time) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
Call from outside Canada and the U.S.
The CRA accepts collect calls by automated response. Contact your service provider or operator to initiate the collect call.
- Telephone number:
- 1-613-221-3004
- Hours:
-
Dedicated CRB number hours (phone-1)
Date Hours Monday to Friday 7 am to 8 pm (ET) Saturday and Sunday Closed Closed on public holidays
-
Start your payment arrangement
To start your payment arrangement, you need to make your first payment towards your debt.
You must continue to make payments on the agreed upon dates in your payment arrangement. Your payment arrangement may be reviewed periodically.
How you pay your COVID-19 debt depends on which department issued your payments. Find debt payment methods options:
It is important to follow your payment arrangement by continuing to make your regular payments. To help reduce the amount you owe, the CRA may also apply amounts from your benefits or credits directly towards your COVID-19 benefit debt.
If you are unable to make payments
You may have options if you cannot pay due to circumstances beyond your control. In cases of undue hardship, you may be able to postpone paying your COVID-19 benefit debt until your financial situation improves.
You need to contact the CRA if you:
Page details
- Date modified:
- 2024-01-24