COVID-19 updates: Mortgage, loans, insurance and more.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on personal finance products. We’re working to bring you the best and latest information so you can make the right money moves during this challenging time.

COVID-19 and your money: What you need to know.

What are the latest updates on how COVID-19 could impact your finances?

Last updated: January 8, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has prompted all levels of government and financial institutions to develop a full-scale response. See the latest updates below:

Ontario parents of high schoolers (between the ages of 13 and Grade 12) will receive $200 per child from the provincial government as children switch to virtual learning for much of January due to the lockdown.
Starting Jan. 1, 2021, the Ontario government will fix Ontarians' hydro rates for 28 days at an off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt an hour for all time-of-use and tiered customers.
The Canada Revenue Agency has started issuing formal collection letters for CERB repayment to recipients they can’t confirm eligibility. Self-employed recipients needed $5,000 in net employment income — after expenses — to qualify, either in 2019 or in the 12 months before their application. The repayment is not mandatory; however, the CRA encourages people to pay back any owed CERB money by the end of 2020 to ensure that there is no impact on their 2021 income tax returns.
If you are/were working from home this year due to COVID-19, you could be eligible for up to $400 in tax deductions if you've incurred modest expenses while being remote. For more information, see here.
The feds announced new support measures for business owners. The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy for small businesses affected by COVID-19 goes directly to the business owner and covers up to 65% of the rent. If your business is facing a public health lockdown order, you can also apply for the new Lockdown Support and boost your rent subsidy by 25%.
WestJet says it will now provide customers refunds instead of credits for cancelled flights due to the pandemic. It will retroactively process refunds for those whose flights were cancelled starting in March of this year. This process could take six to nine months to complete.
Ontario must reinstate emergency health insurance coverage for residents travelling outside of Canada, according to a new court ruling. This means Ontarians will be able to claim $200 to $400 per day for in-patient services, and $50 per day for outpatient and doctor services.
The federal government has boosted the Canada Recovery Benefit for self-employed workers and workers not eligible for EI to $500 per week for up to 26 weeks. The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for those who are unable to work to care for a child, family member, or dependent will also get $500; and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for those who are sick or have to self isolate because of COVID-19 will offer $500 a week as well.

For more information about each province’s individual response, see the pages below:

What kind of economic support is available for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Canadian government will provide the following income support for Canadians. Head over to the government of Canada’s website to learn about the economic response plan in more detail.

For Canadians without paid sick leave, the government is waiving the one-week waiting period for those who wish to claim Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits and is waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access EI benefits.
The government has also introduced a $900 bi-weekly Emergency Care Benefit for up to 15 weeks to provide income support to the following: workers who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19, workers taking care of a family member sick with COVID-19, parents with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures. Read more about how to access these benefits on the Canadian government's website.
To get these benefits, you must be ineligible for EI.
For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours, the government is introducing an Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion to support workers who are not eligible for EI benefits.
The government is also implementing the EI Work Sharing program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about how to access these benefits on the Canadian government's website.
For low-to-moderate income families, the government will provide a one-time special payment by early May 2020 through the Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC), which will aim to increase income for recipients by $400-$600.
For families with children, the government is proposing an increase to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment by $300 per child.
For seniors, the government is reducing the required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) by 25% for 2020.
For students with debt, the government is placing a six-month freeze on the repayment of student loans.
For small business owners, the government has implemented a number of measures to avoid layoffs and help ease financial stress during this time.
For qualifying small and medium-sized business owners the wage subsidy will grow from 10% to 75% - back-dated to Sunday, March 15.
A special emergency business account will see banks offer a loan worth up to $40,000 - government-guaranteed and interest-free for the first year. If the company can repay the balance of the loan by the end of 2022, up to $10,000 of that will be forgiven.
Head over to the government of Canada’s website to learn more.

Special reports on COVID-19 from LowestRates.ca:

LowestRates.ca writers have been working diligently to bring you the latest information about how COVID-19 can impact your financial future. Check out some of their latest work here:

How COVID-19 is affecting mortgages, insurance and loans.

How does COVID-19 impact my mortgage?

This is a really difficult time for homeowners, for a number of reasons. Whether you’re looking for more information about how COVID-19 might impact your mortgage or you want to get a better rate, LowestRates.ca we’ve consulted experts to help you make informed decisions.

First, some background. On March 18, the six major Canadian banks agreed to allow homeowners to defer mortgage payments. Trudeau had initially asked for a deferral period of up to six months. They're granting deferrals on a case-by-case basis and interest will still accrue. When you resume regular payments, your payment will be higher.

The CMHC has said it will support lenders allowing homeowners to defer mortgage payments.

In addition to potentially deferring their mortgage payments, many Canadians may also have the opportunity to renew their current mortgage at a lower rate. The Bank of Canada cut interest rates twice during the month of March for a total of almost 50 basis points, or half a percentage point each time. This means that if you already had a variable mortgage, your interest rates will decrease automatically.

If you have a fixed mortgage, on the other hand, you may be able to contact your lender to decrease your monthly mortgage rate. It’s important to note though, that when rates are decreasing, there are typically large penalties for breaking your mortgage. You’ll have to determine with your broker or insurance representative whether breaking your mortgage and obtaining a new one at a lower rate would save you more money in the long run, despite the additional fee.

To contact your lender to inquire about deferred mortgage payments, see the list of contact numbers below:

ATB: 1-800-332-8383
B2B: 1-800-263-8349
BMO: 1-877-895-3278
Bridgewater: 1-866-243-4301
CIBC: 1-800-465-2422
CMLS: 1-888-995-2657
Optimum: 1-866-411-3775
Equitable: 1-888-334-3313
Connect First: 403-736-4000
Chinook Financial: 403-934-3358
First Calgary Financial: 403-736-4015
First National: 1-888-488-0794
Haventree: 1-855-272-0051
Home Trust: 1-855-270-3630
HSBC: 1-888-310-4722
ICICI: 1-888-424-2422
Manulife: 1-877-765-2265
MCAP: 1-800-265-2624
Merix: 1-877-637-4911
Marathon: 1-855-503-6060
RBC: 1-866-809-5800
RFA: 1-877-416-7873
RMG: 1-866-809-5800
Scotia: 1-800-472-6842
Servus: 1-877-378-8728
Street Capital: 1-866-683-8090
TD: 1-866-222-3465

A lot of people are having trouble getting access to their lender during this time. We recommend going through a broker, who may have a more direct path to your lender than you do.

While we know this is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but if in the future you’re interested in seeing what another lender might be able to offer you following the rate cuts, LowestRates.ca allows you to compare mortgage rates from over 30 banks and brokers across the country.

How does COVID-19 impact my car insurance?

These are difficult times for Canadians, and we want to help you through it as best we can.

We know that money is going to be tight for a while, but you might have no choice but to hang on to your car.

If you’re not planning to give up your car, you may be able to save money by taking advantage of lower car insurance rates. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) announced on April 8 that the auto insurance industry will be offering drivers rebates and discounts on their premiums, since many people are no longer commuting to and from work and therefore not using their vehicles. IBC estimates these savings will add up to $600 million.

Allstate Canada announced it will be refunding its customers $30 million on their May auto insurance bills. It's a one-time "stay-at-home payment" of about 25%. And Aviva Canada will be providing around $100 million in relief, giving customers who have completely stopped driving as a result of COVID-19 an up-to-75% decrease in their premiums. ICBC has also waived fees for drivers who want or need to cancel their insurance during the pandemic.

Also, when the economy is in a slump, people tend to have less extra money to spend on things like insurance. This could result in decreased demand for insurance services which forces insurance companies to compete for your business.

What we’re seeing right now isn’t just a normal slowdown — we’re in the middle of a COVID-19 outbreak that has frozen the economy. The pandemic has led to social distancing around the world, which has forced businesses to temporarily shut their doors.

It may actually be impossible for Canadians to walk into the nearest branch of their local insurance provider or dealership to physically purchase car insurance. Insurance can still be bought online.

LowestRates.ca is happy to connect you with car insurance brokers situated across Canada who can help you find the best car insurance rates — remotely.

How does COVID-19 impact my home insurance?

While social distancing might mean cheaper car insurance rates, it might also cause your home insurance rates to rise.

With people working at home in greater numbers and more kids out of school, this might drive up the amount of coverage you need to cover you in case of an accident.

It’s difficult to say exactly how much your home insurance rates might rise because insurance is such a specialized product.

If you and other occupants of your home are going to be working or otherwise staying home for the near or distant future, contact your home insurance provider to see if your current policy is sufficient to cover you in the event that something happens.

If you’re thinking about changing your policy, comparing home insurance quotes can help you get a better rate. We can help you there. More importantly, we’ll put you in touch with a broker who can provide even more guidance around your new home insurance needs.

How does COVID-19 impact my travel insurance?

Many major providers of travel insurance have issued guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Your trip cancellation or interruption insurance may not be valid if you booked your trip after a specified date. This date will vary depending on the company you purchased your policy from.

The current official global travel advisory means that medical coverage for COVID-19 is not available for trips that departed on or after March 13, 2020.

To check whether or not your coverage is valid, we recommend you speak with your travel agent or insurance representative.

If you have access to travel insurance automatically through your credit card, it will be rendered invalid for trips booked on or after March 13, 2020.

How does COVID-19 impact my car loan?

If you currently have a variable rate car loan, you may see your rates decrease as a result of the recent rate cuts.

If you’re on the hunt for a car loan, this may be a good time to act, as the borrowing rate is lower than it’s been in decades.

Furthermore, some lenders, such as the five major Canadian banks have put measures in place to help their clients achieve some financial relief in the wake of COVID-19.

Contact your lender to see if you’re eligible to skip one or a few car loan payments, though keep in mind that this may impact your amortization and payment schedule.

How does COVID-19 impact my personal loan?

If you’re currently paying back a personal loan and are looking for some financial relief, call your lender to find out if they’ve instituted any relief measures for their clients.

A number of lenders, such as the five major Canadian banks, have instituted measures that allow clients impacted by COVID-19 to skip one or a few payments on their loan.

It’s difficult to say exactly what these measures look like, as every lender has developed its own policy. You can find out exactly what your lender offers and whether you’re eligible by contacting your lender.

A recession also means that a lot of people will be looking to save money. If you have more than one source of outstanding debt and you’d like to pay it off a bit faster, consider consolidating your debt using a consolidation loan.

A debt consolidation loan is a form of personal loan that consolidates all your debt into one regular payment.

The lender you work with will pay off your creditors, which will prevent interest payments from getting out of control. You’re then required to pay them back the sum of all your debt in the form of one monthly payment. This is different from a debt repayment program, which you’ll need to work with an advisor to set up.

How does COVID-19 impact my credit?

One of the most important things Canadians can do if they sense a recession is coming is to get rid of outstanding credit card debt. Fortunately, Canada’s big six banks have temporarily cut interest rates on credit cards (some as low as 10.99%) for customers who are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.

There are a number of ways Canadians can work to get out of existing debt, even if they’re at the beginning of their payback period.

The most obvious option is to make your full credit card payment every month to ensure that you’re not falling into a debt cycle.

In addition, you can also consider signing up for a balance transfer credit card. Many credit cards come with a balance transfer feature which allows holders to transfer their debt from another card onto the new account.

This service will often come with a fee, though the fees charged during the card’s promotional periods are often substantially lower than their regular rates.

If you’re able to transfer your debt to a new card and pay off all your credit card debt during the promotional period, you may be able to save a lot of money in the long run.

We have a number of different balance transfer credit cards to choose from.

You’re up to date. Phew! Lots to take in, we know. Want to get back to comparing quotes? Here’s a shortcut.