CRA has fired 185 employees for 'inappropriately' claiming pandemic CERB benefits

The Canada Revenue Agency says 185 employees have been fired to date for claiming a federal COVID-19 benefit when they were not eligible for it.

That's an increase of 65 since the CRA last updated the public on its probe in September.

The CRA is reviewing approximately 600 cases of current employees receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or CERB during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The benefit was worth $2,000 a month to Canadians whose jobs were lost or downgraded as a result of public-health restrictions.

The CRA says that working for the agency does not necessarily make someone ineligible for the benefitbecause some CRA employees are on temporary or student contracts.

Of the cases reviewed, 116 employees who received CERB were found to be eligible for the benefit. The CRA says those who were ineligible are expected to pay back the money if they have not already done so.