Most important thing with EI is to apply within 4 weeks of last day of work

Record of Employment (ROE)

  • Company contact information
  • Worker’s contact information
  • First day of work
  • Last day of work
  • Reason no longer working
  • Insurable hours – all hours worked in the last 52 weeks that EI was paid for
  • Insurable earnings – all earnings in the last 26 weeks that EI was paid for

Waiting period

There is a 2 week waiting period with no money from EI for all types of benefits

Benefit Rate

55% of income to a maximum of $638/week – whichever is less (2022).  This income is taxable

Types of benefits

Regular

  • Need to have at least 910 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 45 weeks of benefits but this can vary from region to region and number of hours worked
  • Expected to be ready, willing and available for work and actively seeking employment
  • Must be in Canada Monday through Friday to collect benefits

Medical (Sickness)

  • Need to have 600 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 15 weeks of benefits
  • Doctor states too ill or injured to work
  • Do not need to be looking for a job during this benefit period
  • Must be in Canada entire time to collect benefits unless doctor states need to leave Canada for medical reasons

Maternity

  • Need to have 600 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 15 weeks of benefits
  • Mothers to be only
  • Can begin as early as 8 weeks before due date of child
  • Do not need to be in Canada to collect benefits

Parental

  • Need to have 600 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 35 weeks of benefits
  • Can be mother gets all 35 weeks OR father gets all 35 weeks OR both parents share the 35 weeks
  • Can be for birth child or adopted child
  • Do not need to be in Canada to collect benefits but if leaving Canada child MUST be with parent collecting benefits

Compassionate Care

  • Need to have 600 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 6 weeks of benefits
  • This is to take time off from job to be with someone who the doctor states only has 6 months left to live
  • If the person dies before the 6 weeks of compassionate care benefits have occurred the benefits end
  • It is only 6 weeks per dying person – these 6 weeks can be split but 2 people cannot each take 6 weeks of benefits

Parents of Critically Ill Children

  • Need to have 600 hours to qualify
  • Maximum 35 weeks of benefits
  • This is to take time off from job to be with child, under the age of 18, who the doctor states has a life threatening illness or injury
  • If the child dies before the 35 weeks of parental compassionate care benefits have occurred the benefits end
  • It is only 35 weeks per dying child – these 35 weeks can be split between parents but it is only 35 weeks of total benefits

Appealing EI

  • If you have been denied EI benefits you can request a reconsideration of the decision
  • You have 30 days from receiving the denial letter to make the request for reconsideration
  • If you do not have enough hours to qualify for EI you cannot request a reconsideration for appeal because you do not qualify for EI

If you need help applying for Employment Insurance, please click on the link.

Disclaimer information: http://www.thecdlc.ca/education/help-for-workers/disclaimer/