Benefit
Employment Benefits and Leave
Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and leave information for workers, families, fishers and sickness, how to apply and how to submit a report.
- Regular benefits
- Sickness benefits
- Maternity and Parental leave benefits
- Benefits for the self-employed
Regular benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) provides regular benefits to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own (i.g. shortage of work, lay-offs) and are available for and able to work, but can't find a job.
Always apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working.
You can apply for benefits even if you have not yet received your record of employment. If you delay filing your claim for benefits for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
Sickness benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can provide you with up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you can't work for medical reasons. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $638 a week.
You must get a medical certificate to show that you’re unable to work for medical reasons. Medical reasons include illness, injury, quarantine or any medical condition that prevents you from working.
- Employer paid sick leave:
- Some employers provide their own paid sick leave or short-term disability plan. Before you apply for EI sickness benefits, check with your employer to find out if they have a plan in place.
- If your medical condition is expected to be long-term or permanent, you may be eligible for other benefits, such as: Canada Pension Plan disability benefits
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Benefit name Age Must be CPP disability benefit Under 65 Not receiving the CPP retirement pension CPP post-retirement
disability benefit60 to 65 Already receiving the CPP retirement pension for more than 15 months or become disabled after starting to receive the retirement pension
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Maternity and Parental leave benefits
- people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth
- parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child
- You could receive 55% of your earnings, up to a maximum of $638 a week.
Maternity benefits: only available to the person who is away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth.
The person receiving maternity benefits may also be entitled to parental benefits.
Parental benefits: available to the parents of a newborn or newly adopted child and choose between 2 options:
- Standard parental benefits: within 52 weeks ( 1 year)
- Extended parental benefits: within 78 weeks ( 1 year and 6 months)
Summary
Benefit name | Maximum weeks | Benefit rate | Weekly max |
Maternity | up to 15 weeks | 55% | up to $638 |
Standard parental | up to 40 weeks | 55% | up to $638 |
Extended parental | up to 69 weeks | 33% | up to $383 |
Benefits for the self-employed
Employment Insurance (EI) has a program designed for self-employed people. If you run your own business or control more than 40% of your corporation’s voting shares, this program can provide you with access to special benefits as early as 12 months after registering. When you need to take time away from your business to care for yourself, your children or other family members, you could receive financial support of up to 55% of your earnings, up to a maximum amount. In 2022, the maximum amount is $638 per week.
Please note that regular benefits aren’t available through this program.
If you’re a fisher, barber or hairdresser, or if you drive a taxi or other passenger vehicle, you don’t need to register for the self-employed program. People in these professions should apply for EI benefits as an employee.
There are 6 types of special benefits
Benefit name | Who this benefit is for | Maximum weeks | Weekly maximum |
Maternity | people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth | 15 | $638 |
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Parental | parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child | 40 or 69 depends | $638 or $383 depends |
Sickness | people who cannot work for medical reasons | 15 | $638 |
Family caregiver benefit for children | people who provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person under 18 | 35 | $638 |
Family caregiver benefit for adults | people who provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person 18 or over | 15 | $638 |
Compassionate care | people who provide care or support to a person who requires end‑of‑life care | 26 | $638 |
To be eligible for these benefits, you must meet the conditions of the benefit for which you are applying.