| Employment Insurance (EI) |
To qualify for any Employment Insurance (EI) program, you must have worked enough “insurable hours” in your qualifying period.
Your qualifying period is normally the 52 weeks before you apply. |
| Type of EI benefits |
Who’s eligible |
Amount and how to apply |
Notes |
| EI regular benefits |
- you lost your job through no fault of your own
- you have at least 120 insurable hours (1)
- you’re ready, willing, and able to accept work
- you’re actively looking for work
- you’ve been without work or income for 7 days
|
- 55% of your weekly income up to $573 a week
- new minimum amount of $500 a week
- lasts between 26 and 45 weeks
|
- The new rules require 420 insurable hours but give you a “one-time” bonus of 300 hours.
|
| EI sickness benefits |
- you have at least 120 insurable hours (1)
- your weekly earnings went down by more than 40%
- you’re not able to work because you’re sick, injured, or in quarantine
|
- 55% of your weekly income up to $573 a week
- new minimum amount of $500 a week
- lasts up to 15 weeks
|
- The new rules require 600 insurable hours but give you a “one-time” bonus of 480 hours.
|
| EI caregiving benefits |
- you have at least 120 insurable hours (1)
- you must be caring for a person who’s critically ill, injured, or needs end-of-life care
- you’re caring for someone you consider to be like family
- the person must be certified critically ill or in need of end-of-life care (2)
|
- 55% of your weekly income up to $573 a week
- new minimum amount of $500 a week
- lasts up to 15 weeks if the sick person is over 18
- lasts up to 35 weeks if the sick person is under 18
- lasts up to 26 weeks if the sick person needs end-of-life care
|
- The new rules require 600 insurable hours but give you a “one-time” bonus of 480 hours.
- This can be done by a doctor or a nurse practitioner.
|
| EI maternity benefits |
- you have at least 120 insurable hours (1)
- you’re pregnant or recently gave birth (2)
- your weekly earnings went down by more than 40%
|
- 55% of your weekly income up to $573 a week
- new minimum amount of $500 a week
- lasts up to 15 weeks
|
- The new rules require 600 insurable hours but give you a “one-time” bonus of 480 hours.
- You can start 12 weeks before your due date or the day you give birth. You can get the benefits for up to 17 weeks after you give birth.
|
| EI parental benefits |
- you have at least 120 insurable hours (1)
- you recently had a child or recently adopted a child (2)
- you and the other parent are both eligible (3)
- your weekly earnings went down by more than 40%
|
Standard benefits (35 weeks):
- 55% of your weekly income up to $573 a week
- new minimum amount of $500 a week
Extended benefits (61 weeks):
- 33% of your weekly income up to $344 a week
- new minimum amount of $300 a week
|
- The new rules require 600 insurable hours but give you a “one-time” bonus of 480 hours.
- You must use the standard leave within 52 weeks of your child’s birth or adoption, or within 78 weeks if you take an extended leave.
- Both parents must share the weeks of eligibility.
|
