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Employment Insurance (EI) Compassionate Care Benefits
Compassionate Care Benefits (PDF version,391KB)
This document can be made available in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audio cassette, CD, DAISY, and computer diskette. Call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) to request a copy. If you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a teletypewriter (TTY),call 1-800-926-9105.
Produced by Service Canada
March 2010
Online: www.servicecanada.gc.ca
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2010
IN-057-03-10
SG5-35/2009
978-0-662-06890-7
What are compassionate care benefits?
Who can apply?
Am I eligible?
Who is considered a family member?
Is my job protected if I take compassionate care leave?
Can I share compassionate care benefits?
How to apply
How, when, and where should I apply?
Do I have to provide my Records of Employment to Service Canada?
What information and documents do I need?
Getting paid
When will I receive my first payment?
What is the two-week waiting period?
For how long can I receive compassionate care benefits?
Do I have to file a report before I can receive my payments?
Where can I get more information about my claim?
Can I work while receiving compassionate care benefits?
How much will I receive?
How do you calculate my weekly EI payment?
Other frequently asked questions
Can I combine compassionate care benefits with other types of benefits?
Will I have to repay benefits at income tax time?
Can I quit my job for compassionate care reasons?
What happens to my claim if there is a labour dispute?
Can I receive compassionate care benefits outside Canada?
What benefits are available to a gravely ill person from Canada’s public pensions?
What benefits are available to family members of a gravely ill person?
What are my rights and responsibilities?
What are compassionate care benefits?
One of the most difficult times for anyone is when a loved one is dying or at risk of death. The demands of caring for a gravely ill family member can jeopardize both your job and the financial security of your family. The Government of Canada believes that, during such times, you should not have to choose between keeping your job and caring for your family.
Compassionate care benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) benefits paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill and who has a significant risk of death within 26 weeks (six months). A maximum of six weeks of compassionate care benefits may be paid to eligible people.
This publication is designed to answer questions you may have about compassionate care benefits, including who is eligible and how to apply for these benefits.
Service Canada administers the Employment Insurance program. For information about all EI benefits, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca. You can also call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) (from the main menu, choose option “2,”and then press “2” to access “types of benefits”).
What is “care or support”?
Care or support of a family member means:
- providing psychological or emotional support; or
- arranging for care by a third party; or
- directly providing or participating in the care.
Who can apply?
Am I eligible?
You can receive compassionate care benefits for up to a maximum of six weeks if you have to be absent from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member at risk of dying within 26 weeks. If you are unemployed and already receiving EI benefits, you can also apply for compassionate care benefits.
To be eligible for compassionate care benefits, you must be able to show that:
- your regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40 percent; and
- you have accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the last 52 weeks, or since the start of your last claim (this period is called the qualifying period).
If you have been paid EI benefits in the past and you received a written notice (for example, a warning letter or penalty letter) for making a false statement, you will need more insured hours to claim compassionate care benefits.
Who is considered a family member?
You can receive compassionate care benefits for a variety of family members—both yours and those of your spouse or common-law partner—as shown on page 3.
| Your family members | Family members of your spouse or common-law partner |
|---|---|
| Children | Children |
| Wife, husband, common-law partner | |
| Father, mother | Father, mother (married or common law) |
| Father’s wife, mother’s husband | Father’s wife, mother’s husband |
| Common-law partner of the father or the mother | Common-law partner of the father or the mother of your spouse or common-law partner |
| Brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters | Brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters |
| Grandparents, stepgrandparents | Grandparents |
| Grandchildren, their spouses or common-law partners | Grandchildren |
| Sons-in-law, daughters-in-law (married or common law) |
Sons-in-law, daughters-in-law (married or common law) |
| Father-in-law, mother-in-law (married or common law) |
|
| Brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law (married or common law) |
|
| Uncles, aunts, their spouses or common-law partners | Uncles, aunts |
| Nephews, nieces, their spouses or common-law partners | Nephews, nieces |
| Current or former foster parents | Current or former foster parents |
| Current or former foster children, their spouses or common-law partners |
|
| Current or former wards | Current or former wards |
| Current or former guardians, their spouses or common-law partners |
|
A common-law partner is a person who has been living in a conjugal relationship with another person for at least a year.
Yes. You can also receive compassionate care benefits to care for a gravely ill person who considers you a family member, such as a close friend or neighbour. A signed Form INS5223, Compassionate Care Benefits Attestation, is required from the gravely ill person or their legal representative.
Is my job protected if I take compassionate care leave?
Most provincial and territorial labour codes provide job protection for workers in this type of family situation. However, the definition of “family member” varies. It is important that you confirm with your employer and the provincial/territorial government that you have job protection for compassionate care leave before you apply.
Can I share compassionate care benefits?
Yes. You can share the six weeks of compassionate care benefits with other members of your family. Each family member must apply for and be eligible for these benefits.
If you plan to share compassionate care benefits, you and your family members should agree on the number of weeks that each of you will take before you apply for benefits. Each family member can claim the benefits at any time during the 26-week period, either at the same time or at different times.
The following is an example of how your family could share compassionate care benefits between three family members:
- You: Your claim starts on January 3, 2010, and you ask for two weeks.
- Your sister: Her claim starts on January 17, 2010, and she asks for one week
- Your brother: His claim starts on June 13, 2010, and he asks for three weeks.
If the medical certificate (see the box called “Medical proof” on page 7) was signed on January 7, 2010, then the 26-week period starts on the previous Sunday, January 3, 2010, and ends on July 3, 2010.
Since you are the first to claim compassionate care benefits, you will serve the two-week waiting period (see page 9 for details).
The waiting period and number of weeks payable for each family member are as follows:
- You will serve the two-week waiting period from January 3 to January 16, 2010, and then you will receive two weeks of benefits, payable from January 17 to January 30, 2010.
- Your sister will serve no waiting period; she will receive one week of benefits, payable from January 17 to January 23, 2010.
- Your brother will serve no waiting period; he will receive three weeks of benefits, payable from June 13 to July 3, 2010.
How to apply
How, when, and where should I apply?
To receive compassionate care benefits, you must submit an EI application online. Apply as soon as you stop working. If you delay filing your claim by more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
To apply, use any computer with Internet access and visit the Service Canada Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca. From the home page, click on ‘‘Apply for Employment Insurance Benefits.’’ You can apply at home, at any Service Canada Centre using one of the many Internet kiosks available, or at a public Internet access site, such as a public library. The Web site takes you step by step through the application process. It could take up to one hour to complete the application online.
Do I have to provide my Records of Employment to Service Canada?
Service Canada uses Records of Employment (ROEs) to determine whether you qualify for EI benefits, the benefit rate that applies to you, and the duration of your claim. Missing ROEs can delay the processing of your claim.
- If your employers issue ROEs in paper format, you must request copies of all ROEs issued to you during the last 52 weeks and provide them to Service Canada as soon as possible after you submit your EI application. You must either mail us your paper ROEs or drop them off in person at a Service Canada Centre.
- If your employers submit ROEs electronically to Service Canada, you do not need to request copies of your ROEs from your employers, and you do not have to provide copies to Service Canada. On the same day your employers submit them, you will be able to view and print copies of your ROEs online using My Service Canada Account.
If you are having difficulty obtaining your ROEs from your employers, we can help. Go to your Service Canada Centre or contact us at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742). One of our agents will advise you on how you can obtain the ROE, or what we need to calculate your claim.
What information and documents do I need?
To apply online for compassionate care benefits, you will need the following information:
- your Social Insurance Number;
- your mother’s maiden name;
- your mailing and residential addresses, including the postal codes;
- your complete banking information, including the financial institution name, the branch number, and your account number, if you want to apply for direct deposit;
- employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reasons for separation for all your employers for the last 52 weeks;
- your detailed version of the facts, if you quit or have been dismissed from any job in the last 52 weeks; and
- information about the gravely ill family member, such as first and last name, date of birth, and home address (if some of this information is not available when you apply, you can provide it to us later).
After you apply online, you will need to provide us with the following documents before we can finalize your claim:
- if your SIN begins with a “9,” proof of your immigration status and work permit;
- the two required forms that prove the ill family member needs your care or support (see the box called “Medical proof” below for details); and
- any required information about the ill family member that was not available when you applied online.
You will need to either mail us these documents or drop them off in person at a Service Canada Centre.
When requesting compassionate care benefits, as soon as possible after you apply, you must provide medical proof showing that the ill family member needs care or support and is at risk of dying within 26 weeks.
As proof, you must submit the following two forms:
- Form INS5216A, Authorization to Release a Medical Certificate, which must be completed and signed by the gravely ill person or their legal representative; and
- Form INS5216B, Medical Certificate for Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits, which must be completed and signed by the medical doctor of the gravely ill person to confirm their significant risk of death within 26 weeks.
Copies of these forms are available on our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or from any Service Canada Centre. A Service Canada agent will be able to print the form, if you cannot.
You must submit these two forms at the same time. Please note that you are responsible for any fees the doctor requests for completing the medical certificate form. Another medical practitioner, such as a nurse practitioner, can sign the medical certificate when:
- the gravely ill family member is in a geographic location where access to a
medical doctor is limited or not possible; and - a medical doctor has authorized the other medical practitioner to treat the ill family member.
Only one medical certificate is required per gravely ill family member within the 26-week period, regardless of whether only one person is claiming the six weeks of benefits, or whether these benefits are being shared. If more than one medical certificate is submitted, it is the first certificate that determines the start and end dates of the 26-week period.
Getting paid
When will I receive my first payment?
If we have all the required information and if you qualify for benefits, you will usually receive your first payment within 28 days of the date we received your claim. If you do not qualify, we will notify you of the decision we made about your claim.
Using direct deposit
Direct deposit ensures that you will get your payments as quickly as possible. You can register for direct deposit when you apply for EI. Direct deposit is reliable, convenient, and easy to set up.
You can apply for direct deposit or update your banking information at any time by visiting our Web site or calling us.
- Visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca and click on “Access My Service Canada Account” from the “On-line Services and Forms” menu on the right-hand side of the home page.
- Call our telephone information service at 1-800-206-7218
(TTY: 1-800-529-3742) and press “0” to speak with a representative. Be sure to have your complete banking information ready, including the financial institution name, the branch number, and your account number.
If you do not register for direct deposit when you apply for EI, we will mail your payments to you.
What is the two-week waiting period?
You must serve a two-week unpaid waiting period before you begin receiving your EI benefits. Usually, this period is the first two weeks of your claim. This is like a deductible for any kind of insurance.
If you are reactivating a claim for benefits for which you have already served a two-week waiting period, you do not have to serve another two-week waiting period. Contact us for more information.
Any earnings that you receive during this two-week waiting period will be deducted from future benefits.
Under certain circumstances, the two-week waiting period may be waived or deferred.
For example:
- If you get sick leave pay from your employer following your last day worked, the waiting period may be waived.
- If family members are sharing compassionate care benefits, just the first family member to claim these benefits has to serve the waiting period. Only if the other family members later claim regular, sickness, maternity, or parental benefits would they have to serve the two-week waiting period.
- If you receive group insurance payments, you can serve the two-week waiting period during the last two weeks you are receiving these insurance payments.
If two or more family members are claiming compassionate care benefits at the same time, the family members must decide which individual will serve the waiting period.
For how long can I receive compassionate care benefits?
You can receive compassionate care benefits for a maximum of six weeks within
the 26-week period that starts during one of the following weeks, whichever is earlier:
- the week the doctor signs the medical certificate; or
- the week the doctor examines the gravely ill family member; or
- the week the family member became gravely ill, if the doctor can determine that date (for example, the date of the test results).
The benefits end when:
- six weeks of compassionate care benefits have been paid; or
- the gravely ill family member dies or no longer requires care or support (benefits are paid to the end of the week); or
- the 26-week period has expired; or
- you have exhausted the maximum benefits payable on a claim that combines
compassionate care benefits with other types of EI benefits.
If you submit more than one medical certificate, it is the first certificate that determines the start and end dates of the 26-week period.
If the gravely ill family member dies while you are collecting compassionate care benefits, you must let us know immediately to prevent EI overpayments. Please call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742), from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us or visit us in person at a Service Canada Centre.
Example: Duration of benefits
On January 3, 2010, your father becomes gravely ill. You reactivate an existing claim for benefits, for which you have already served the two-week waiting period. You ask for the full six weeks of benefits, as follows:
- three weeks from January 3, 2010, to January 23, 2010; and
- three weeks from May 9, 2010, to May 29, 2010.
The medical certificate is signed on January 7, 2010; the 26-week period starts on the previous Sunday, January 3, 2010, and ends on July 3, 2010.
If your father dies before the end of the 26-week period, your benefit payments may be affected.
For example, if he dies on May 13, 2010, your benefits will be paid as follows:
- For January 3, 2010, to January 23, 2010, you will receive three weeks of benefits.
- For May 9, 2010, to May 15, 2010, you will receive one week of benefits.
- For May 16, 2010, to May 29, 2010, you will not receive the final two weeks of benefits. In this case, benefits are payable only until May 15, 2010.
Do I have to file a report before I can receive my payments?
For most Employment Insurance claims, you have to complete a report before we can issue a payment. However, when receiving compassionate care benefits, you do not have to complete reports to receive your benefits. To waive the need to complete reports, you must request an exemption when you apply online. This request states that you will notify Service Canada if you work, receive money, or find yourself in a situation that may affect your EI benefits. We can then make your payments directly to your bank account using direct deposit (see the box called “Using direct deposit” on page 8).
Where can I get more information about my claim?
On the Internet
If you have a current or previous claim for EI benefits, you can view details about your claim by visiting My Service Canada Account on the Service Canada Web site. Using this secure online account, you can access all your EI information in one place. With My Service Canada Account, you can:
- confirm any decisions made about your EI application;
- sign up for direct deposit;
- see details on your payments and deductions;
- view and update your personal information; and
- view all Records of Employment that your employers submitted electronically
in the last two years.
To use My Service Canada Account, you will need to create an epass user ID and password. To do this, you will need your access code, which you will find on the benefit statement that is mailed to you after you apply for EI benefits. For more information, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca. From the “On-line Services and Forms” menu on the right-hand side of the page, click on “Access My Service Canada Account.”
If your bank account information changes or if you move, you must let us know as soon as possible. You can update your mailing address, telephone number, and direct deposit information using My Service Canada Account.
By telephone
You can get information about your EI claim by calling the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742). Shortly after you file your EI application for compassionate care benefits, we will mail you an EI benefit statement, which will provide you with an access code. Your access code is a four-digit number printed in the shaded area of your statement. You will need it, along with your Social Insurance Number (SIN), when you make telephone enquiries about your claim.
The access code identifies you and ensures that your privacy is protected. Do not let others have it, because they could get information or take action on your claim without your knowledge. You would be held responsible for this. Keep your access code in a safe place and, for extra security, keep it stored separately from your SIN.
Keep in mind that receiving the EI benefit statement does not mean that we have made a decision about your claim.
Can I work while receiving compassionate care benefits?
You cannot work full time while receiving compassionate care benefits. However, you are entitled to work part time and keep a portion of your benefits.
Normally, if you work and receive compassionate care benefits at the same time, you are entitled to earn a certain amount without having your benefits reduced. You can usually earn up to $50 per week or 25 percent of your weekly benefit, whichever is higher. Any money earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefit.
However, effective December 7, 2008, until December 4, 2010, you can earn the higher of the following two amounts:
- $75 per week; or
- 40 percent of your weekly benefits.
Any amount exceeding $75 per week or 40 percent of your weekly benefits will be deducted from your weekly benefits.
You must report all gross earnings—before taxes and deductions—during the week you earn them, as well as any other money you may receive while collecting compassionate care benefits. To report your earnings, simply call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak with a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
To find the Service Canada Centre nearest you, visit our Web site at
www.servicecanada.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232;
TTY: 1-800-926-9105).
How much will I receive?
The basic benefit rate is 55 percent of your average insurable earnings, up to a yearly maximum insurable amount ($43,200 in 2010). This means that, in 2010, you can receive a maximum payment of $457 per week. Your EI payment is taxable income, meaning federal and provincial or territorial taxes, if they apply, will be deducted.
You could have a higher benefit rate if your family includes children, and if you earn a low family income—less than $25,921 per year. If you or your spouse receives the Canada Child Tax Benefit, you may then be entitled to the Family Supplement, which means a higher benefit rate. However, the benefit payments will never be more than $457 per week.
How do you calculate my weekly EI payment?
The amount of your weekly EI payment depends on your gross earnings—that is, your total earnings before taxes and deductions, including tips and commissions—in the last 26 continuous weeks. We calculate your payment as follows:
- We look at your total gross earnings in the last 26 continuous weeks, ending with your last day of work.
- We take into consideration the number of weeks you worked in the last 26 weeks.
- We determine the unemployment rate in your area, and the minimum divisor
(see the table below) that applies to that unemployment rate. - To calculate your average weekly insurable earnings, we divide your total gross earnings in the last 26 weeks by one of the following numbers, whichever is greater:
- the number of weeks you worked in the last 26 continuous weeks; or
- the minimum divisor number. - We then multiply the result by 55 percent to obtain the weekly benefit amount.
The maximum amount is $457 per week.
| Regional rate of unemployment | Divisor |
|---|---|
| 6% or less | 22 |
| 6.1% to 7% | 21 |
| 7.1% to 8% | 20 |
| 8.1% to 9% | 19 |
| 9.1% to 10% | 18 |
| 10.1% to 11% | 17 |
| 11.1% to 12% | 16 |
| 12.1% to 13% | 15 |
| 13.1% or more | 14 |
| Example: How we calculate your payment | ||
|---|---|---|
| In the last 26 weeks, you worked 26 weeks and earned $10,400. You live in an area where the unemployment rate is 13.1 percent, and the minimum divisor is 14. | ||
| To obtain your average weekly earnings | We calculate $10,400 ÷ 26 weeks = $400 (We use the number of weeks worked, since that number is higher than the divisor.) |
|
| To obtain your weekly EI payment | We calculate 55% of $400 = $220 EI benefits payable to you. |
|
Other frequently asked questions
Can I combine compassionate care benefits with other types of benefits?
Yes. You can combine compassionate care benefits with other types of benefits.
However, the type of other benefit may make a difference to the length of your claim, as described below.
Compassionate care benefits combined with regular EI benefits
You can receive up to 50 weeks of benefits when compassionate care benefits are combined with EI regular benefits. For more information, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
Compassionate care benefits combined with maternity, parental, or sickness benefits
You can receive up to 71 weeks of benefits when compassionate care benefits are combined with maternity, parental, or sickness benefits. For more information, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
Will I have to repay benefits at income tax time?
When you file your income tax return, you will not be required to repay any of the
compassionate care benefits you received. However, if you received compassionate care and regular EI benefits within the same taxation year, you may be required to repay some or all of the regular EI benefits.
Can I quit my job for compassionate care reasons?
The compassionate care benefits program is designed to help you provide care or support to a gravely ill family member at risk of dying without having to quit your job. If you do quit, however, you can still receive compassionate care benefits, but it is possible that you may not be paid EI regular benefits.
You may be able to receive EI regular benefits if quitting your employment was the only reasonable alternative in your case, considering all the circumstances. In other words, you took all the necessary steps to avoid quitting your job.
For more information, call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
What happens to my claim if there is a labour dispute?
If your absence from work to claim compassionate care benefits was already approved by your employer before a work stoppage for a strike, lockout, or other form of labour dispute, you may still be eligible for compassionate care benefits. To find out more about the impact of labour disputes on EI benefits, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/ei/labourdisputes, or call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
Can I receive compassionate care benefits outside Canada?
Yes. You can receive compassionate care benefits to care for or support a family member, regardless of where that family member lives. You have to apply for benefits and submit the same information and documents as you would to take care of a gravely ill family member residing in Canada.
If you go outside Canada, you must advise Service Canada by calling the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and pressing “0” to speak to a representative. You can also write to us at your local Service Canada Centre, or you can visit us in person there.
What benefits are available to a gravely ill person from Canada’s public pensions?
A gravely ill person who may be eligible for EI sickness benefits may also be eligible for disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). That person can apply for both of these benefits at the same time.
If the gravely ill person worked in Quebec, he or she contributed to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), which offers benefits similar to those of the CPP.
What benefits are available to family members of a gravely ill person?
The CPP and QPP also pay disability, survivor, and children’s benefits to those who qualify. Surviving spouses or common-law partners and dependent children may be eligible for a CPP or QPP death benefit, survivor’s pension, or children’s benefit.
For more information about the Canada Pension Plan:
- Visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca
- Call us toll-free at 1-800-277-9914 (in Canada and the United States) (if you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-255-4786)
For more information about the Quebec Pension Plan:
- Visit the province’s Web site at www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/en
What are my rights and responsibilities?
As a claimant of compassionate care benefits, you have rights and responsibilities, as described below.
Your right to appeal a decision
If we decide not to pay you benefits or if we impose an overpayment or a penalty on your claim, we will send you a letter explaining why we have done so.
If you disagree with or do not understand our decision, and you have not had the
opportunity to discuss it with one of our agents, contact us immediately. Have handy all details concerning your claim for benefits, and make sure you provide us with all pertinent information.
If you still disagree with an EI-related decision, you have the right to appeal.
How to appeal a decision
There are two methods available to appeal a decision:
- You can write a letter to your local Service Canada Centre, indicating which decisions you wish to appeal. You must send your appeal letter within 30 days of receiving a decision notice. If you appeal after this 30-day period, you will need to provide the reason for the delay.
- You can use a standard appeal form that is available on the “Serving Employment Insurance Appellants” Web site at www.ei-ae.gc.ca. However, you are not required to use this form to file an appeal.
For more information on the Employment Insurance appeals process, contact us:
- Visit the “Serving Employment Insurance Appellants” Web site at www.ei-ae.gc.ca.
- Call the EI Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742).
- Speak to a Service Canada representative at a Service Canada Centre.
Your responsibility to provide accurate information
To help protect the integrity of the EI program, you are responsible for providing accurate information with your claim. Depending on the circumstances, if you knowingly make false or misleading statements, you will likely be fined. In addition, we will record a violation on your EI file. When this happens, you will need to work more hours to qualify for EI benefits in the future.
We understand that mistakes can happen
Mistakes can happen. Claimants can make a mistake when filling out forms. Mistakes can cause a delay in payment or cause an error in the amount of benefits you receive. Contact us as soon as you become aware of the errors, and provide us with the correct information. Under our voluntary disclosure policy, we can waive any penalty or prosecution if the matter is not already under investigation.
Employers who commit fraud—for example, by falsifying or selling a Record of Employment—are also subject to penalties.
How to contact us
- Click www.servicecanada.gc.ca
- Call 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742)
This automated telephone information service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To speak to a representative, call this number between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, and press “0.” You can get general information about the Employment Insurance program, the Social Insurance Number (SIN), and your specific Employment Insurance claim. Information about your claim is updated every morning from Monday to Friday. You will need your SIN and access code numbers to receive information on your claim. - Visit a Service Canada Centre
To find the Service Canada Centre nearest you, visit our Web site at
www.servicecanada.gc.ca, or call 1 800 O-Canada
(1-800-622-6232; TTY: 1-800-926-9105). - Write to us at your local Service Canada Centre
To find the Service Canada Centre nearest you, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232; TTY: 1-800-926-9105).
