Employment Insurance - Benefits

Provides temporary financial assistance for unemployed Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills.

For an unemployed person to qualify for regular benefits, they must have paid into the Employment Insurance (EI) plan as an employee, have been laid off, have worked a certain number of hours within the past year, be available and actively searching for work. Other conditions may also apply.

In addition, Benefits are also available to eligible workers as follows:

• Sickness Benefits: if unable to work due to illness, injury or quarantine.
• Maternal and Parental Benefits: if pregnant, have recently given birth, are adopting a child  or are caring for a newborn
• Caregiving Benefits and Leave: if providing care or support to a critically ill or injured adult family member or child or to someone needing end-of-life care.
• Benefits for the Self-employed
• Benefits for Canadians living abroad
• Fishing Benefits

Detailed information about eligibility and application proces are all available on the website,  by phone or by mail.

For information about appealing a negative decision regarding a claim see Employment Insurance Request for Reconsideration (Appeal) Process  or, if that appeal is denied, see  the The Social Security Tribunal (SST) of Canada