US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Alberta couple fighting the CRA after being asked to repay $33K in COVID benefits
The couple claims eligibility under CRA's own forms and criticizes changing low-income thresholds; nearly 1.4 million Canadians repaid $3.3 billion in COVID benefit debts, agency said.
- Daria Skibington-Roffel and her husband Ron Roffel say they must repay roughly $33,000 in COVID-19 benefits after she qualified via a federal questionnaire, The Canadian Press reported on Jan. 18, 2026.
- In audited reviews, the Canada Revenue Agency says it is recovering COVID-19 benefits because some recipients were overpaid or ineligible, while the couple contests eligibility based on federal questionnaires and changing income thresholds.
- Having received pandemic supports, Daria Skibington-Roffel says she got the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Recovery Benefit, noticed missing tax refunds, and filed two failed appeals claiming eligibility.
- The CRA warned it may offset refunds, garnishee wages or take legal action to recover unpaid debts, while Daria Skibington-Roffel and Ron Roffel say they took loans, nearly lost their home and face severe financial strain.
- As of Nov. 30, the Canada Revenue Agency had disbursed $83.5 billion in COVID benefits including $45.3 billion for CERB, with nearly 1.4 million people repaying $3.3 billion as the agency seeks recovery of more than $10 billion.
Insights by Ground AI
20 Articles
20 Articles
Winnipeg Free Press+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
Alberta couple fighting the CRA after being asked to repay $33K in COVID benefits
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
·Winnipeg, Canada
Read Full Article
An Alberta couple said the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is trying to recover tens of thousands of dollars in pandemic relief payments they received years ago.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left15Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution88% Left
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources lean Left
88% Left
L 88%
12%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
