The extended duration of Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits

What is the extended duration of EI regular benefits measure?
When will the changes come into effect? 
How will the changes affect my EI claim?
I live in a region currently covered by the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10). Will I receive additional weeks of EI?
I live in a region not currently covered by the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10). Will I receive additional weeks of EI?
What regions are included in the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10)?
Is the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10) still available?
Will I have to re-apply to get the extra weeks of EI if I have used up all my regular EI benefits? 
When will I know if I can claim more EI benefits?
How long will the new extended duration of EI benefits last?
How will I know if I'm eligible to receive extra weeks?
While this measure is in place, how long can regular benefits be paid? 

Notes: The extended duration of Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits replaces the Extended Employment Insurance Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10), which ceased to apply on February 28, 2009.

EI eligible long-tenured workers may be eligible for additional benefits if they have contributed to the Employment Insurance (EI) program for a significant period of time and have previously made limited use of EI regular benefits. For more information visit the page on Extension of EI Regular Benefits for Long-Tenured Workers.

What is the extended duration of EI regular benefits measure?

As part of its Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada passed legislation on March 12, 2009 that increases the maximum number of weeks a claimant can receive EI benefits.

This change provides nationally the benefits of the current Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10) that until now, has only been provided in regions with the highest unemployment rates.

Depending on the region, this change increases the weeks of regular benefits individuals can receive by up to five weeks and increases the maximum number of weeks from 45 to 50.


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When will the changes come into effect?

The changes came into effect on March 1, 2009.


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How will the changes affect my EI claim?

If your EI claim was still open on March 1, 2009 and if you are still unemployed, you may be entitled to receive up to five additional weeks of regular EI benefits. The number of extra weeks you may receive depends on where you live.


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I live in a region currently covered by the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10). Will I receive extra weeks of EI?

If you live in a region currently covered by the Extended EI Benefits Pilot, the weeks you were entitled to receive already included five additional weeks, up to a 45-week maximum.

Because of the increase of the 45-week maximum to 50 weeks, you may be entitled to additional weeks benefits.

Information about additional weeks of EI benefits will be available the first week of April through your My Service Canada Account, as well as on the Service Canada website.


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I live in a region not currently covered by the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10). Will I receive extra weeks of EI?

As the additional five weeks now apply to all areas of Canada, you may be entitled to receive five more weeks of EI benefits.


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Is the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10) still available?

No. Once the new legislation came into effect, the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10) ceased to apply on February 28, 2009.


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What regions were included in the Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10)?

These are the regions included in Extended EI Benefits Pilot (Pilot Project 10):

Region name

  • Bas-Saint-Laurent-Côte-Nord, Quebec
  • Central Quebec
  • Chicoutimi-Jonquières, Quebec
  • Eastern Nova Scotia
  • Gaspésie-Îles-De-La-Madeleine, Quebec
  • Madawaska-Charlotte, New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland/Labrador
  • Norli Western Quebec
  • Norliern, British Columbia
  • Norliern Manitoba
  • Norliern Ontario
  • Norliern Saskatchewan
  • Norliwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Restigouche-Albert, New Brunswick
  • St. John's
  • Sudbury
  • Trois-Rivieres
  • Western Nova Scotia
  • Yukon

Will I have to re-apply to get the extra weeks of EI if I have used up all my regular EI benefits?

No. If you are eligible, we will automatically renew your EI claim to make it easier for you to receive these additional benefits. When we renew your claim, we will send you your access code by mail, and we will include detailed instructions on what you need to do to begin claiming benefits again.


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When will I know if I can claim more EI benefits?

If you have used up all your regular EI benefits and are eligible, you will receive a letter from us explaining how to claim your additional weeks of benefits.

If you are receiving benefits already, information about additional weeks of EI benefits will be available the first week of April through your My Service Canada Account, as well as on the Service Canada website.

If you are just beginning your claim, your first benefit statement will tell you how many weeks of EI benefits you are eligible to receive.


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How long will the extended duration of EI regular benefits measure last?

The extended duration of EI regular benefits measure will run a total of 18 months, from March 1, 2009 to September 11, 2010. Claims that ended before March 1, 2009 and new claims that will start after September 11, 2010 are not eligible for the additional weeks of benefits under this measure.


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How will I know if I'm eligible to get extra weeks of EI?

You are eligible to get the extra weeks of EI if you meet the following conditions:

  • you are filing a claim and are eligible to receive regular benefits; and
  • your claim for benefits must be active March 1, 2009, or start between March 1, 2009 and September 11, 2010.

Note: The additional five weeks of EI benefits do not apply to fishing benefits nor to  maternity, parental, sickness or compassionate care benefits.


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While this measure is in place, how long can regular benefits be paid?

Regular benefits can be paid from 19 to a maximum of 50 weeks. The number of weeks of benefits which may be paid is determined at the time your claim for benefits starts. It is based on the unemployment rate in your region and the number of insurable hours you have accumulated in the qualifying period.
Example:
You live in an economic region with an unemployment rate set at 7.5%. You have accumulated 733 hours of work and your claim started on March 1, 2009.
Maximum number of weeks of EI benefits payable before the initiative: 18 weeks
Maximum number of weeks of EI benefits payable under the initiative: 23 weeks


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Regional unemployment rate
Hours
of
work		 6%
and
under		 +
6%
to
7%		 +
7%
to
8%		 +
8%
to
9%		 +
9%
to
10%		 +
10%
to
11%		 +
11%
to
12%		 +
12%
to
13%		 +
13%
to
14%		 +
14%
to
15%		 +
15%
to
16%		 over
16%
420-454                  31 33   35  37
455-489 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 31 33 35 37
490-524 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 30 32 34 36 38
525-559 0 0 0 0 0 26 28 30 32 34 36 38
560-594 0 0 0 0 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39
595-629 0 0 0 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39
630-664 0 0 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
665-699 0 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
700-734 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
735-769 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
770-804 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
805-839 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
840-874 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
875-909 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
910-944 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
945-979 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
980-1014 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45
1015-1049 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45
1050-1084 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
1085-1119 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
1120-1154 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
1155-1189 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47
1190-1224 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
1225-1259 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
1260-1294 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
1295-1329 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49
1330-1364 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
1365-1399 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
1400-1434 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 50
1435-1469 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 50
1470-1504 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 50 50
1505-1539 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 50 50
1540-1574 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 50 50 50
1575-1609 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 50 50 50
1610-1644 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 50 50 50 50
1645-1679 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 50 50 50 50
1680-1714 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 50 50 50 50 50
1715-1749 38 40 42 44 45 48 50 50 50 50 50 50
1750-1784 39 41 43 45 47 49 50 50 50 50 50 50
1785-1819 40 42 44 46 48 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
1820- 41 43 45 47 49 50 50 50 50 50 50 50