P.E.I. woman asked to repay $18,500 in CERB benefits by year-end.

Christine MacDonald says she did everything possible to make sure she actually qualified for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit before she applied in March.

Her home-based custom cake business -- which relied on people ordering cakes for weddings and birthday parties -- was in the process of falling flat thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions being imposed.

That left her household with only the income from her husband's construction job.

Everything she saw told her she would qualify for the CERB because she had more than $5,000 in self-employment income in 2019.

So she applied, receiving her first payment on April 16. Between the CERB and the Canada Recovery Benefit that replaced it, her benefits thus far in 2020 have totalled $18,500.

But on Nov. 26, MacDonald received a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency saying she never actually qualified and would have to pay all the money back -- with the suggestion she do so by Dec. 31 to avoid tax penalties.

CBC News December 11, 2020, 4:53 p.m. GMT-5

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-cerb-benefits-payback-macdonald-casey-1.5838395

The landing page detailing the eligibility requirements on Canada.ca still does not mention the word 'net' when referring to income from self-employment.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA
Eligibility criteria - Closed

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra/who-apply.html

Canadian have consented their tax-money to thousands of unfair CERB beneficiary to adjust their net income after the factual and adjourned judgments?

Honestly too COMPLICATED to comprehend!

Uho!!! This what happens when you don't read the fine print!!

NOTHING GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT COMES GRATIS!