Employment Insurance

Employment Insurance benefits and leave information for workers, fishers, sickness and families, as well as how to apply and submit a report.

Types of EI

Canada’s unemployment insurance is generally divided into six categories. Regular Benefits, Maternity, Parental Benefits, Sickness Benefits, Compassionate Care Benefits, Fishing Benefits, Specific Situations.

1. Regular Benefits: Employment Insurance (EI) provides regular benefits to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs) and are available for and able to work, but can’t find a job.
2. Maternity, Parental Benefits: EI maternity benefits are offered to biological mothers, including surrogate mothers, who cannot work because they are pregnant or have recently given birth. EI parental benefits are offered to parents who are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child or children.
3. Sickness Benefits：This assistance includes providing sickness benefits to people unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine.
4. Compassionate Care Benefits：Compassionate care benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a significant risk of death.
5. Employment Insurance (EI) provides fishing benefits to qualifying, self-employed fishersFootnote 1 who are actively seeking work.
6. Specific Situations: If you are a teacher, work outside Canada, self-employed, etc., you can apply for this allowances under certain conditions.

Eligibility

1. Were employed in insurable employment;
2. Have been without work and without pay for at least seven consecutive days in the last 52 weeks; have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter;
3. You have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have earned enough money during the qualifying period.
4. Are ready, willing and capable of working each day;
5. Ask the employer for the ROE (Record of Employment) form. The reason for leaving the position meet the specific criteria.

How Much You Could Receive

For most people, the basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. As of January 1, 2018, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $51,700. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $547 per week.

How Long You Could Receive EI Benefits

You can receive EI from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region at the time of filing your claim and the amount of insurable hours you have accumulated in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter.

If you would like to know more about EI benefits, please fill out the form below. After receiving your information, our welfare assistance experts will contact you immediately.