Claim expenses and financial losses due to Phoenix: advance for government benefits
Request an advance for government benefits
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If you have been overpaid since the implementation of the Phoenix pay system, the amount you received for government benefits and credits may have been reduced. You can request an advance for these benefits to compensate for these benefits on a temporary basis.
An advance is interest-free money from the government for your use until your Phoenix pay issue is resolved. The amount is based on the difference between your normal income and your overstated income.
The advance is a temporary measure put in place until the employee’s tax slip is corrected. The correction will allow the employee’s government benefit and credit entitlements to be recalculated using the employee’s correct employment income. It is not taxable. Once your pay issue is resolved and your benefits are restored, you must pay it back.
Who can submit a claim
This claims process applies to all employees who experienced problems caused by the Phoenix pay system.
You qualify for an advance if you were overpaid in 2016, 2017, or 2018, and:
- the amount of your provincial/territorial or federal benefits was reduced because your employment income was overstated
- you have reported your overpayment to Public Services and Procurement Canada
- you have not yet received your amended tax slip to correct the overstated employment income
- you have filed your income tax return for the year which you were overpaid with the Canada Revenue Agency or with Revenu Québec
How to submit a claim
You can request an advance that is roughly equal to the difference between the amount of government benefits you expected and what you received.
You may request advances for 3 months at a time, plus the number of months that have elapsed between July 2017 (for 2017 benefits), July 2018 (for 2018 benefits), or July 2019 (for 2019 benefits) and the date of your request for an advance.
Your request for an advance is important to us. We will review each request carefully, and we will review exceptional situations on a case-by-case basis.
Requesting an advance will not impact your pay, as advances are not processed through the Phoenix pay system.
Gather all documents related to your federal and provincial/territorial benefits and credits, such as the Canada child benefit statement or the notice of determination for the GST/HST credit.
Print and complete the claim form. Attach a separate document to your completed form if you need to provide additional explanation.
Keep a copy for your records!
Privacy Statement
The personal information requested in this form is collected under the authority of the Financial Administration Act and will be used for assessing your request in accordance with the Directive on Payments and with the Directive on Public Money and Receivables. Refusal to provide the requested information may delay or prevent the processing of your request.
The personal information you provide may be shared with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Claims Office and Public Services and Procurement Canada. Your personal information will be protected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Privacy Act and as described in Personal Information Bank PSU 931 (Accounts Payable) and PSU 932 (Accounts Receivable). Your information may also be used or disclosed for financial reporting and program evaluation. The information will be retained for seven years following the last administrative action and then destroyed.
Under the act, individuals have rights to request access to and correction of their personal information. If you wish to avail yourself of these rights or require clarification about this Privacy Notice Statement, please contact your organization’s Privacy Coordinator. If you are not satisfied with the response to your privacy concern, you may wish to communicate with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner by telephone at 1-800-282-1376 or by email at info@priv.gc.ca.
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