Employment Insurance (EI) in Canada is more than just a safety net, it provides financial help to those who've lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It’s a system you’ve paid into and can access when you need it most.
Whether you’ve been laid off, had your hours slashed, or are navigating the fallout of an economic crisis, EI is designed to offer temporary financial relief while you get back on your feet. But, qualifying for EI isn’t automatic. You must meet specific criteria around work hours, contributions, and eligibility timelines.
In this article, we’ll break down exactly what you need to know to make sure you don’t miss out on the benefits you’re entitled to.
What is employment insurance?
Employment insurance (EI) is a Canadian insurance program that provides temporary financial support to individuals who are laid off from work, are pregnant, or have to take care of an ill family member. The program also benefits those who are self-employed or unable to work due to a sickness or injury.
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) oversees the Employment Insurance program and is in charge of fixing the annual EI rate.
How much money can you get?
There are a few factors that contribute to how much money you can receive from EI. If calculated using the EI benefit basic rate, you can receive up to 55% of your average insurable weekly wage, to a maximum of $638 per week.
Depending on the unemployment rate in your area at the time of applying and the number of insurable hours accumulated in the last 52 weeks, you’ll be eligible to receive EI for somewhere between 14 and 45 weeks.
Can you work while receiving EI?
Yes, working while receiving EI is possible, but the CEIC will remove half of your earnings from your EI benefits. This only applies if you don't earn more than 90% of the average insurable earnings of your EI benefits. The remaining money (after the 90%) is then removed gradually from your benefits.
You'll be eligible to keep 50 cents of your EI benefits for every dollar you earn – up to 90% of the previous week’s earnings – if you're working while under EI and have completed your waiting period.
Most importantly, when you're simultaneously working and receiving EI payments, you must send in a report of your work earnings and the hours you worked for each week. If you don't send this, all your earnings will be removed from your benefits, and you'll likely face other penalties too.
Additionally, suppose you're benefiting from other payments while receiving EI. Some earnings will be removed from your EI benefits, while others will not impact your regular benefits.
However, when you work full-time for a whole work week, you won’t receive any benefits for that week.
How does EI work?
The EI process begins when you file a claim and submit your bi-weekly report of hours worked and earnings to Service Canada. If you are deemed eligible, you may start receiving your EI benefits.
Keep in mind that the amount of benefits you’ll receive depends on your earnings and number of hours worked.
Receiving your EI payments
Before you start receiving your EI benefits, you won't get any payment for 1 week. That week is known as the waiting period. However, if you applied, provided all accurate information, and are eligible for the program, you'll get your first payment in less than 28 days.
In simple terms, you'll be receiving your earnings every 2 weeks. So you won’t have to spend much time waiting and you don’t need to worry about when the next payment will come.
As long as you apply for the EI program as soon as possible.
When EI payments end
Certain conditions will cut you off from receiving EI benefits. This happens if:
- You’ve received all the benefits you’re entitled to
- You stopped filing your bi-weekly reports
- You requested termination of your claim
- The timeframe for receiving your EI benefits has ended
It's essential to inform Service Canada if you take a new job before finishing your current EI claim – they’ve got to adjust your claim accordingly. The adjustment depends on whether your work is contractual, part-time, or full-time.
If your work is part-time or by contract, you can reactivate your claim to continue receiving your payments if/when this job comes to an end.
On the other hand, if you're not satisfied with your EI benefits application, you can write and submit a request for reconsideration within 30 days of receiving notice of Service Canada’s decision regarding your claim.
Submitting biweekly reports
After sending in your application for EI benefits, you must continue to submit bi-weekly reports to Service Canada throughout the period you receive the benefits. The purpose of the report is to show your current eligibility and ensure you continue receiving the benefits you're entitled to.
The most important details to remember and include are whether you're working or earning money in some way. If this isn’t disclosed, you could be overpaid and have to deal with repayment complications at some point down the road.
Employment insurance eligibility
As you apply for EI benefits, you’ll have to keep the following eligibility criteria.
You’re only eligible for financial assistance through EI if:
- Your previous job was insurable
- You lost your job through no fault of your own (or are affected by flooding, wildfires)
- Have been without work and pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks
- Have worked for the required number of insurable hours in the last year (or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter), and are ready and willing to work every day
- Are actively looking for work (you must keep a record of employers you contact, and when you contacted them)
In addition, you'll have to prove your eligibility and complete the sign-up process by sending bi-weekly reports via phone or over the internet.
It’s important to remember that by not sending in the biweekly report, you’re at risk for losing all your benefits.
When are you NOT eligible for EI?
You aren’t eligible for EI benefits if you:
- Voluntarily left your job without cause (quitting your job for no reason implies that you're not ready to commit to working)
- Are taking part in a labour dispute (lockout, protest, or any other type of conflict) during your work period
- Were released from your job due to misconduct (this includes instances of quitting or losing a job because you didn't adhere to your employer's compulsory COVID-19 vaccination policy)
- Are in jail or confined in a similar institution
Most times, before the EI administrators accept your application, they’ll contact you and your employer to confirm your eligibility for EI benefits.
Employment insurance benefits
There are 5 types of employment insurance benefits set up to assist unemployed individuals.
| Employment insurance benefits | How long can you receive it? | Who's eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| Sickness benefits | Up to 26 weeks | An individual who's unable to work because of quarantine, illness, or injury. |
| Maternity and parental leave | * Maternity (for the person giving birth): 15 weeks * Standard (shared between parents): 40 weeks * Extended: 69 weeks | * For Maternity leave, an individual who gave birth. * For Standard, this is shared between parents (with neither parent receiving more than 35 weeks of standard benefits). * For Extended, this is also shared between parents (with neither parent receiving more than 61 weeks of benefits). |
| Caregiving benefits | 15, 26, or 35 weeks | An individual who's taking care of a seriously ill or injured person. |
| Self-employed | 15 to 69 weeks | A person who runs a business and is temporarily unable to work. |
| Fishing benefits | 26 weeks | A self-employed fisher who's actively searching for work. |
EI sickness benefits
If you're unable to work for medical reasons, you can apply for EI sickness benefits. This category of benefits offers financial assistance for as long as 26 weeks. You're entitled to 55% of your earnings, up to a max of $695 per week.
However, to apply for these benefits, you must have a medical certificate to prove that you’re unable to work. These medical reasons can include quarantine, accident, illness, or other severe medical conditions.
Additionally, you’ll need to prove that your weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40% in the week before you applied, and that you worked up to 420 insured hours in the last 52 weeks.
If you aren't prevented from working for medical reasons while getting these EI benefits, you must be available to work.
EI maternity and parental leave
The maternity and parental leave benefits available through EI offer financial assistance to individuals who are no longer working because they have just given birth, they’re taking care of their newborn baby, or they’re pregnant.
Maternity benefits are only for the individual who gives birth, and aren't shared between both parents. However, parental benefits are available for the other parent and those with a newly adopted child.
Whatever your situation, if you hope to receive these benefits, you’ll have to prove that your usual weekly earnings have been reduced by 40%.
The number of weeks you'll be eligible to receive benefits will depend on whether you choose the extended or standard parental benefits. For those on maternity leave, you'll be entitled to a benefit rate of 55% for a maximum of 15 weeks.
For standard parental leave, you'll be entitled to 55% for a period of 40 weeks. However, one parent can only receive this benefit for 35 weeks – to take advantage of the full 40 weeks, families with 2 or more parents can split the time between themselves.
Extended parental benefits run for a maximum of 69 weeks. Only 61 weeks are available for one parent – again, parents will have to split the time in order to take advantage of the full 69-week term. The benefit rate is 33%, to a maximum of $417 per week.
Furthermore, individuals can apply for both maternity and parental benefits at once.
EI caregiving benefits
This EI benefit is for those who cannot go to work because they're taking care of someone who’s seriously ill or has been the victim of an accident. Anyone eligible for this benefit is entitled to receive 55% of their earnings, to a maximum of $638 each week.
As a person offering caregiving services, you don't necessarily need to live with or be related to the person you're caring for, but they must see you as akin to family. Plus, the person will have to complete an attestation form to confirm their claim.
There are 3 different types of caregiving benefits:
- Family caregiver benefit for adults: The ill or injured person is above 18 years of age and the caregiver has 15 weeks of benefits
- Family caregiver benefit for children: The ill or injured person is less than 18 years of age and the caregiver has 35 weeks of benefits.
- Compassionate care benefits: The ill or injured individual can be of any age and the caregiver has 26 weeks of benefits.
Eligible individuals can get benefits during the 52 weeks before a medical doctor certifies the ill or injured person to be in need of care. You can take advantage of all the benefits at once or you can split them into separate periods.
EI benefits for self-employed people
These EI benefits cover those who are self-employed. If you need to stop work for a while to take care of yourself or your family members, you're entitled to receive up to 55% of your earnings.
In addition, if you control more than 40% of shares in your business, the EI program will provide you with special benefits for up to 12 months after you apply.
However, none of the regular benefits are available with this program.
This category offers 6 special types of benefits:
- Maternity: The individual can’t work because they recently gave birth or are pregnant, and they’re entitled to 15 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of $695.
- Parental: The individual stays away from work to take care of their newborn baby and is entitled to either 40 or 69 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of either $695 or $417.
- Sickness: The individual is ill and can’t work, but they’re entitled to 15 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of $695.
- Family caregiver benefit for children: The individual has left work to care for someone under the age of 18 who is ill or injured, but they’re entitled to 35 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of $695.
- Family caregiver benefit for adults: The individual has left work to care for someone over the age of 18 who is ill or injured, but they’re entitled to 15 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of $695.
- Compassionate care benefit: The individual has left work to care or support a person who requires end-of-life care, but they’re entitled to 26 weeks of benefits with a weekly max of $695.
Aside from the above details, there are a few more qualification details:
- You're a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- You're registered as self-employed for at least 12 months with an agreement with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission, in which you pay premiums through income tax returns.
- You've made losses in your self-employed earnings because of your unavailability, which has reduced the number of hours you spend on your business by 40%.
- You've earned a minimum amount during the year before your benefits application. For 2025, this would be $8,826 between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
It should be noted that hairdressers, fishers, and barbers aren’t eligible to register for this program. Instead, these people can register for EI benefits as an employee.
EI fishing benefits
First and foremost, the eligibility for EI fishing benefits is not based on your number of insurable hours, but on earnings. This benefit is for fishers who are self-employed and actively searching for work. You will need to have earned a minimum of between $2,500 and $4,200, dependent on the rate of unemployment in the region where you live.
Qualifying for this benefit doesn't stop you from being entitled to other regular benefits.
When you apply, your EI fishing benefits are calculated by dividing your total earnings during your qualifying period by the number of weeks you worked – or any applicable divisor. The lower figure will be multiplied by 55% to confirm your weekly benefit.
So, the maximum weekly amount you'll be entitled to will vary yearly based on your insurable earnings for the year. This benefit is usually for a period of 26 weeks.
Employment insurance application
Follow the steps listed below to apply for EI coverage.
1. Gather everything you need
You'll need to gather all the information below to complete your EI application:
- Your SIN
- Either of your parents' last names at birth
- Your residential and mailing address
- Your banking information – including the name of the institution, the branch number, and your account number
- Names, addresses, and dates of employment within the last 52 weeks
- Reasons for leaving any employment within the last 52 weeks (a detailed explanation)
- Your insurable earning amounts for each paid week
If you're restarting an existing claim, you'll need to provide:
- The amount of salary you were paid for the last week you worked, including commissions and insurable tips.
- Other monies you will receive or received, like pension payment, vacation pay, or severance pay.
Ensure you sign up for direct deposit when you apply for EI benefits, so your earnings will be sent automatically to your bank account within 2 working days of your EI report being processed.
2. Complete the online application
To confirm your eligibility for EI benefits, you must complete the online application, which takes about an hour. The information on the application is usually saved for 3 days – if you don't submit your application within this period, for whatever reason, it'll be deleted and you'll need to start the application process again.
You'll be asked to provide your email address when you apply, but if Service Canada needs to contact you, they’ll email you with a toll-free phone number and request that you call them.
Also, if you began an EI claim within the last 52 weeks and still have payable weeks available, your existing claim will be renewed when you submit your application.
3. Your statement will come in the mail
Service Canada will mail you a benefit statement with a 4-digit access code once your application is received. You'll need the code and your SIN to continue your application.
Keep in mind that receiving this statement doesn't mean that a decision about your claim has been reached.
4. Keep up to date with your EI application
You should check the status of your EI application relatively often while waiting for a decision. This can be done by signing into MCSA or by contacting Service Canada.
Once the decision has been reached, the government will provide all the necessary information to get started, if your application was approved.
FAQ
What is employment insurance?
Employment insurance is a federal program that provides temporary financial assistance to individuals who are unemployed for various reasons. It also covers specific situations involving illness, family caregiving, and families welcoming new children (either through adoption or giving birth).
How can I call the employment insurance office?
Contact information can be found on the Service Canada website, but you can also use their online services, contact by mail, or visit a Service Canada Centre in person. Centres are open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon-Fri.
How do you qualify for employment insurance?
To qualify for these benefits, you must prove a few details. These details include showing that you’ve worked up to the mandatory insurable employment hours since the beginning of your previous EI claim or during the last 52 weeks.
What are the different employment insurance benefits?
There are a few different EI benefit types available. These include regular benefits for those who are unemployed, sickness benefits for those who can't work because of quarantine or severe illness, and a few others.
How much money can I get from employment insurance benefits?
The amount you'll receive as benefits won’t be disclosed to you until your application is submitted and processed. However, most people receive a maximum of 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, which comes to about $695 a week.
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