Canada’s emergency benefit applications are giving a little more insight into income disruption. Canada Revenue Agency data presented to the House of Commons shows a breakdown of CERB applicant income from last year. The data, first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, shows hundreds of thousands of applicants didn’t file taxes at the time of application. More interesting though, is the number of high income applicants. Tens of thousands of CERB applicants made six-figures last year. This shows an altered income pattern for many of Canada’s top earners.
Why Is This Important?
Today we’re looking at CERB applicants by income reported in tax filings the previous year. For non-Canadians, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was a $2,000 monthly emergency payment, given to people with pandemic related income losses. This is a similar amount made by many low income Canadians. However, it’s a lot lower than the income made by thousands of people that applied.
Somewhat surprising, is that tens of thousands of relatively high income Canadians applied for CERB. Now, this isn’t a rich bashing piece to say they didn’t need it. This tells us about a disruption in income, or a delay some Canadians made paying themselves. This will alter, delay, or eliminate consumer consumption. If the losses are semi-permanent, then this buying power disappears from the economy. If it was just delayed or paused, it explains why we’re seeing income catapult so quickly again, and should expect a consumption boom. This data point further adds to the excess savings trend we discussed yesterday.
Over 128,000 Applicants Made 6-Figures A Year Before
Tens of thousands of Canadians that applied for the pandemic income, made over six figures. Even more had income just below that mark. CRA data shows 90,720 people applied for CERB that had an income between $93,259 to $147,667 in 2019. Another 23,900 applicants filed taxes that showed they made between $147,667 and $210,371 last year. In the highest disclosed bracket, 14,070 applied for CERB that made over $210,371 last year. If all approved, this would be between $209.58 million to $1.26 billion of benefits consumed by this demographic.
Canadian CERB Applicants By 2019 Tax Bracket
The number of CERB applicants by 2019 tax bracket, including those that have not filed 2019 taxes. Source: CRA, Blacklock’s Reporter, Better Dwelling.The largest pool of applicants was relatively low income. The majority, 3,844,090 applicants, made less than $47,630 the year before applying. This represents about 71.45% of the applicants. In some instances, low income households may have made more on CERB. However, there may be cases where they had their income cut in half as well.
The Second Largest Demographic Is Completely Unknown
Another interesting observation in the data is the second largest segment of applicants didn’t file taxes. There were 823,580 CERB applicants who did not file 2019 taxes at the time of application. The read on that is a little more mixed in my opinion. It doesn’t mean they weren’t automatically ineligible. The income tax filing deadline was pushed to September 30, the day these numbers were tallied. Further, the criteria reads:
“Who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application”
This makes the takeaway a little less obvious. There’s no doubt a number of people that didn’t technically qualify for CERB, took it anyway. There are also a number of people that may have been late on taxes, or earned the $5,000 minimum in 2020. These people would have still been eligible. Basically, not even the government is sure how this will change spending patterns.
Households that didn’t need CERB, but qualified and took it anyway, helps explain the savings glut. Without an income cap on benefits, the cash just helped pad savings accounts. The bad news is, high income households just received a subsidized cheque. The good news is they’ll probably spend that money in the economy when it reopens.
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I received a CERB check, it was automatically given when I applied for employment insurance benefits. I will probably have to return all of the money at tax time next year (I made too much). So, even tho my bank account has grown in size, it won’t be oversized for very long.
who do you think have homes, mortgages, kids, car payments etc. They of course have huge amounts of bills and cerb didnt probably cover half of it. Frankly the fact that it is even news worthy id disgusting to me. They probably paid taxes and ei their whole lives and didnt collect any benefits now you make it out to be an outrage. absolutely atrocious.
This is why there needs to be a skill testing question to read economics blogs.
If CERB was half the money they normally made, they have half the money they would have in the previous year. This means half the amount of GDP generated, and a loss to economic capacity, as the author literally pointed out, while also pointing out they are not making the point you just made.
No one cares that you’re on welfare. Get over yourself.
LMFAO Trader Jim just schooled you.
Well Chad,
Youre ‘disgusted’ are you? If you make 6 figures and DONT have any money saved, thats too bad. Paying YOUR bills of a luxury lifestyle isn’t MY problem.
You’ve had it good for so long that youve become entitled? grow up you selfish goof
I’m not convinced anyone actually read Chad’s comment.
I’d rather taxpaying Canadian citizens, even high income earners, get the money than foreign students (extended to them by Trudeau) and satellite families (tax evasion and the CRA ignores).