Money can be tight at the best of times.
Governments have had varied approaches to benefits and payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reasons why there have been so many wildly differing responses are myriad.
Here are some of the ways in which countries are offering financial support to individuals right now.
The USA
Nowhere in the world are benefits a more political issue than in the United States.
Individualism is entrenched in the political playbook of the land of the free.
Despite this, it was clear that some kind of emergency benefit was badly needed during the pandemic.
The current administration campaigned whilst promising a more substantial $2000 stimulus check for all Americans.
In his first weeks in office, Joe Biden signed off on alarge stimulus and financial aid package.
Unfortunately, this has yet to be passed down to individuals.
Canada
Canada is well known for its progressive benefits policies in comparison with its southern neighbor.
It can be applied for separately and concurrently with other Canadian benefits like Employment Insurance.
There isplenty of help available to Canadianswho have been asked to repay their Emergency Response Benefit.
The countrys primary export oil lost a huge amount of value during the early part of the crisis.
Unfortunately, people working in unregulated jobs or without property are not being offered very much at all.
