Canada Chasing $2000/Month Repayment On Covid Benefits

[Economy 52,907]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/cra-to-send-out-new-round-of-letters-checking-eligibility-from-cerb-recipients-1.5756484

 

When Covid-19 first struck Canada rolled out a $500/week income benefit to unemployed due to pandemic that did not qualify for regular EI benefits

 

In order to not cause delays and roll out the assistance to those that needed it as fast as possible the Government relied on honesty of applications largely not double checking that people really met the criteria or were even unemploymed at all and for the most part granted all applications tho it had warned that at a later time they would review the legitimacy of applications and would ask for the money back if you did not qualify

 

Now the Government wants the money back from ppl who should never have received the money in the first place or made false claims.

 

Canada revenue agency is offering interest free and flexible payments if those contacted that they are among the ones that owe the money back co-operate. Those that ignore the letters may face interest payments

[Economy 52,907]

I think its fair the Government wants to recoup what was never supposed to be given out in the first place especially since they did warn pretty early on that if ur making claims u shouldnt it may haunt u later...

 

The only issue i have with this is that the worst offenders that outright lied and worked under the table for cash for example while receiving the benefits (I literally know 3 people who did that) will be the hardest to catch and will largely get away with it

 

Meanwhile genuinely struggling ppl who were still working reduced hours and have a record of employment to look thru that thought they were still within the maximum earnings to still qualify but made a genuine mistake when they applied will be the easiest to catch 

[PartySick 172,982]

6 minutes ago, Economy said:

Now the Government wants the money back from ppl who should never have received the money in the first place or made false claims.

Oh, I thought the people that needed the money had to repay it

I'm good with this. People that game the system to make a quick buck while others actually need help actually make me sick

[Economy 52,907]

6 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Oh, I thought the people that needed the money had to repay it

I'm good with this. People that game the system to make a quick buck while others actually need help actually make me sick

There was a lot of both

 

It made me sick how many ppl totally abused the benefits and stole taxpayers money because the goverment granted applications so easily to avoid delays. There was literally so many ppl abusing it and for the ppl that worked under the table for cash while receiving benefits their dusgusting behaviour probably wont get caught and they will get away with it. 

 

Meanwhile theres ppl who were genuinely struggling but their incomes didnt drop quite enough to technically qualify. Ppl who needed it more than those who abused it and they either didnt get it or they may have to repay it

 

I have no issue with Government recouping money that shouldnt have been given out. Only part that bothers me more is that the most devious and sneeaky probably wont get caught while struggling ppl that didnt quite qualify but maybe genuinely still needed help probably will get caught and have to repay. That part is messed up

[Dojo 19,823]

didn't this contribute to inflation in usa as well? the government printing money just to give it away?

[Economy 52,907]

Just now, dojo said:

didn't this contribute to inflation in usa as well? the government printing money just to give it away?

That was 1 factor yes. Although i think under the circumstances it was justified despite the inflation because ppl needed those survival checks so badly

 

There was gonna be major economic impact regardless so i think some inflation is preferable to ppl going bankrupt, evicted and hungry so I still think the Government did the right thing by giving out those benefits

 

But yes it is 1 factor (among other pandemic related factors) that has contributed to inflation 

[Guest]

wish France did that, they are so weak, everyone exploits the money here