The CRA has terminated 232 employees for improperly claiming the monthly pandemic benefit
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has terminated 232 employees for making fraudulent claims to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by The Canadian Press.
As the pandemic led to widespread job losses due to public health restrictions, the CERB offered $2,000 per month to Canadians affected by these job losses. The number of employees dismissed for this reason has risen by 47 since December, indicating a significant crackdown by the CRA.
The individuals who were fired had “inappropriately applied for and received” the benefit, according to the CRA, and are now required to repay the CERB funds if they have not already.
In response to these fraudulent claims, the CRA initiated an internal review, scrutinizing 600 employees to determine their eligibility for the benefit. This review aimed to identify those who might have unjustly received the CERB.
However, not all employees under investigation were deemed ineligible for the benefit; the agency noted that some were students or term employees who may have legitimately qualified for the aid.
Of the cases reviewed thus far, the CRA confirmed that 133 employees were rightfully recipients of the CERB. This leaves approximately 235 files still under examination, as the agency continues to ensure that only eligible individuals received the benefit.
