Employment Insurance (EI) and Regular Benefits

More information about Employment Insurance (EI)

Do you have a question about the EI program? The frequently asked questions might help!

Who is eligible?
Qualifying period
Maybe your old EI claim just needs to be reactivated
How, where and when to apply
What information/documents are needed to apply?
Number of hours of work required to qualify
Labour force attachment period
    
When will you receive your first payment?
A 2-week waiting period to serve
How long can regular benefits be paid?
In order to get paid...
You wish to get information about your EI insurance claim

How much will you receive?
How we calculate the amount you will receive
Calculation of the weekly benefit rate based on the best 14 weeks

Working while on EI
Taking courses or training programs
Various types of earnings
Quitting your job
Being fired for misconduct
Corporate downsizing
Labour disputes
      
EI Premiums
Repayment of benefits at income tax time
Regular benefits while temporarily absent of Canada
Your rights and responsibilities
Appealing a decision
Looking for work

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Who is eligible?

Regular benefits can be paid if you lose your job through no fault of your own, for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs and you are available for and able to work but you can’t find a job.

To be eligible for regular benefits you must show that:

If you voluntarily quit your job without just cause or if you are fired due to your own misconduct, you will not be paid regular benefits. To know more on quitting your job or being fired for misconduct...

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Qualifying period

The qualifying period is the shorter of :

• the 52-week period immediately before the start date of a claim, or 
• the period since the start of a previous EI claim if that claim had started during the 52 week-period.

Only the insurable hours that fall within the qualifying period are used to start a benefit period. However, the qualifying period may be extended up to 104 weeks if you were not employed in insurable employment and not receiving EI because you were:

• incapable of work by reason of illness, injury, quarantine or pregnancy; or
• confined in a jail, penitentiary or other similar institution; or
• attending a course of instruction or other related employment activity to which you were referred to by an Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) designated authority; or
• not working because you were receiving a payment under a provincial law on the basis of having ceased work because continuing to work would have entailed danger to you, your unborn child or a child you were breast feeding.

If one of these reasons applies to you, it is your responsibility to request the extension of your qualifying period and to provide all supporting documents.

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Maybe your old EI claim just needs to be reactivated

If you filed a claim for benefits within the last 52 weeks, you may be able to reactivate this claim. To reactivate your claim, please submit an application online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere you have Internet access, or during business hours at your Service Canada Centre. 

However, in certain situations it may be to your advantage to cancel or end your old claim and start a new one instead. If you are interested in doing so, please contact us within 30 days. To know more on the duration of a benefit period...

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How, where and when to apply

To receive regular benefits you must submit an EI application online or in person at your Service Canada Centre, even if you receive or will receive money when you become unemployed.

Be sure to apply as soon as you stop working even if you don’t have your Records of Employment. Delaying in filing your claim for benefits beyond 4 weeks after your last day of work may cause loss of benefits.

If your employers issue ROEs in paper format, you must request ROEs from all your employers who issued ROEs in paper format in the last 52 weeks. However, if your employer submits your ROE to Service Canada electronically, you do not need to request a paper copy of your ROE from your employer since we will receive it electronically from your employer. On the same day your employer submits it, you will be able to view and print copies of your ROE online using My Service Canada Account.

If you are having difficulty obtaining your ROE(s) from your employer(s), we can help. Go to your Service Canada Centre or contact us at 1 800 206-7218. One of our agents will advise you how the ROE can be obtained or what is needed to calculate your claim.

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What information/documents are needed to apply?

• your Social Insurance Number (SIN). If your SIN begins with a 9, you need to supply proof of your immigration status and work permit.  
• If your employers issue ROEs in paper format, you must request ROEs from all your employers who issued ROEs in paper format in the last 52 weeks. However, if your employer submits your ROE to Service Canada electronically, you do not need to request a paper copy of your ROE from your employer since we will receive it electronically from your employer. On the same day your employer submits it, you will be able to view and print copies of your ROE online using My Service Canada Account.
• personal identification such as your driver's licence, birth certificate or passport, if you are applying in person;
• your complete bank information, as shown on your bank statement, or a personalized blank cheque from your current account. This will ensure that your payment of benefits will be made directly to your bank account with Direct Deposit;
• your detailed version of facts if you have quit or have been dismissed from any job in the last 52 weeks;
• details regarding your most recent employment: Your total salary before deductions including tips and commissions, your salary before deductions for your last week of work, from Sunday to your last day worked, gross amounts received or to be received, such as vacation pay, severance pay, pension, pay in lieu of notice or lay-off, and other monies.

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Number of hours of work required to qualify

Most people will need between 420 and 700 insurable hours of work in their qualifying period to qualify, depending on the unemployment rate in their region at the time of filing their claim for benefits. To find out this number...

In some instances, a minimum of 910 hours in the qualifying period may be needed to qualify. For examples :

• if you are in the work force for the first time;
• if you are re-entering the work force after an absence of two years.
  *However, if you have received at least one week of maternity or parental benefits in the 208 weeks preceding the 52-week period prior to the qualifying period, you will require between 420 and 700 hours to qualify for regular benefits.
• violations from previous EI claims may also increase the number of hours required to qualify for EI benefits.

Particular situations: Effective December 11, 2005, if you are living in one of the 23 participating economic regions, you could qualify for regular benefits with a minimum of 840 hours instead of 910 hours. To know more...

When you show that you have at least 490 hours related to employment in the labour force during the labour force attachment period you will need between 420 and 700 insurable hours to qualify for regular benefits. Otherwise, you will need a minimum of 910 hours to qualify regular benefits. See examples 1 and 2...

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Labour force attachment period

The labour force attachment period is the 52-week period preceding immediately the qualifying period. In calculating the number of hours during which a person was a member of the labour force, we take into account :

• any hours of insurable employment;
• any hours for which benefits have been paid or payable, calculated on the basis of 35 hours per week for each week of benefits paid;
• any hours that relate to a situation arising out of insurable employment or a situation which prevents the payment of benefits. We calculate, for each of the following weeks, 35 hours per week for:
   
  any week for which you have received or will receive:
  
  • worker's compensation payments, other than a lump sum or permanent settlement;
  • wage-loss insurance earnings;
  • indemnity payments due to preventative withdrawal of work;
  • monies preventing payment of EI benefits due to allocation of earningsduring the 2-week waiting period;
     
  any week for which you:
  
  • were attending a course of instruction to which you were referred to by an Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) designated authority;
  • were employed under an approved self-employment or job creation programs;
  • did not work but had earnings that prevented an interruption of earnings;
  • were serving as part of the waiting period;
  • were unemployed resulting from a stoppage of work due to labour disputes — strike, lockout;
  • were serving a disqualification.

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When will you receive your first payment?

If we have all the required information and if you can be paid benefits, your payment will be issued usually within 28 days from the date we receive your application. If you cannot be paid benefits, we will notify you of the decision made on your claim.

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A 2-week waiting period to serve

You must serve a 2-week unpaid waiting period before your EI benefits begin to be paid. Generally, this period is the first 2 weeks of your claim. This is like a deductible for any kind of insurance. On the other hand, if you reopen a claim for benefits in which you have already served a 2-week waiting period, you do not serve another 2-week waiting period.

Earnings made, for example, vacation pay, severance pay or allocated during the 2-week waiting period will be deducted in the first 3 weeks for which benefit is otherwise payable following the waiting period. See example 1... These weeks do not need to be consecutive nor to follow immediately the waiting period. Once these 3 weeks payable have passed, if some earnings from waiting period still remain, they will just be ignored. See example 2...

Earnings allocated to any week of the waiting period result in a dollar for dollar deduction equal to your weekly benefit rate. This means that the maximum deduction for the 2-week waiting period is twice your weekly benefit rate.

Each working day for which you are not entitled to benefits that fall within the 2-week waiting period is calculated at 1/5 of your weekly benefit rate, as earnings to be deducted in the first 3 weeks during which benefits become payable. For example, your weekly benefit rate is $250 and in the first week of your waiting period you are not entitled to benefits for 2 days. We calculate 2/5 of $250.00 or — $250 ÷ 5 x 2 = $100.00 — as earnings during the waiting period. A combination of earnings and days for which you are not entitled to benefits, that falls within the waiting period, can be deducted at the same time. See example 3...

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How long can regular benefits be paid?

Regular benefits can be paid from 19 to a maximum of 50 weeks.  As part of a temporary initiative called "The extended duration of Employment Insurance (EI) Regular Benefits", the length of time regular benefits can be paid is between 19 and 50 weeks.  The initiative is effective on all claims where the benefit period has not ended before March 1st, 2009, or where the benefit period does not begin after September 11, 2010. The number of weeks of benefits which may be paid are determined at the start date of the benefit period, based on the unemployment rate in your region and the amount of insurable hours you have accumulated in the qualifying period.

Please note that the number of weeks of benefits which may be paid does not change even if you move in another region after the start date of your claim. 

The period of time in which you can claim the weeks you are eligible is 52 weeks. This period  ends when the first of the followings occurs :

• all the weeks to which you are eligible have been paid; or
• a maximum of 50 weeks of benefits have been paid; or 
• the 52 week duration is reached; or
• you request and qualify for the termination of your claim.

The duration of the benefit period may be extended up to 104 weeks, but the number of weeks of benefits which may be paid will remain unchanged.  Therefore, the benefit period may be extended if you were not paid EI benefits during a benefit period because you were :

• confined to a jail, penitentiary or other similar institution; or
• in receipt of worker's compensation payments for an illness or injury; or
• receiving separation payments from your former employer;
• your newborn or newly adopted child was hospitalized within 52 weeks after the week of birth or the week the child was placed in your care for adoption; or
• not working because you were receiving a payment under a provincial law on the basis of having ceased work because continuing to work would have entailed danger to you, your unborn child or a child you were breast feeding.

If one of these reasons applies to you, it is your responsibility to request the extension of your benefit period and to provide all  supporting documents.

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In order to get paid...

In order to get paid you must complete a report by Internet, telephone or mail every 2 weeks. These report are very important as regular payments cannot be issued without them.

Shortly after applying for EI, you will receive a Benefit statement in the mail indicating your Access code and the date your first claimant's report is due. Keep in mind that this does not mean that a decision has been made yet on your claim.

Along with your Benefit statement you will also receive instructions on how to complete your report with our Internet reporting service or our Telephone reporting service. If you cannot complete your claimant's reports by Internet or by telephone, you will need to complete and mail them to us. To find out how to complete your report by mail, just follow these step-by-step instructions.

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You wish to get information about your EI insurance claim

If you have a current or previous claim for EI benefits, you can with our Internet service My Employment Insurance (EI) Information online:

• View and update your personal information including your mailing address, telephone number and banking information for direct deposit.
• View your current EI claim information.
• View payment information on your current claim including deduction details.
• View your previous claims for EI benefits.

Please note, if your bank account information changes or if you move, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. You can update your mailing address, telephone number and direct deposit information by using My Employment Insurance (EI) Information online.

You can also obtain information about your EI claim by calling our Telephone Information Service 1 800 206-7218 and choosing Option 1.

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How much will you receive?

The basic benefit rate is 55% of your average insured earnings up to a yearly maximum insurable amount of $42,300. This means you can receive a maximum payment of $447 per week. Your EI payment is a taxable income, meaning federal and provincial or territorial, if it applies, taxes will be deducted.

You could receive a higher benefit rate if you are in a low-income family — net income up to a maximum of $25,921 per year — with children and you or your spouse receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) . You are then entitled to the Family Supplement.

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How we calculate the amount you will receive

Effective October 30, 2005, if you are living in one of the participating economic regions you may benefit from a new method of calculating your weekly benefit rate. This new method of calculation is based on the best 14 weeks of insurable earnings over the last 52 weeks of work. To know more...

If you are not living in one of the participating economic regions, the amount of your weekly benefit payment depends on your total earnings before deductions including tips and commissions, in the last 26 weeks, and is calculated in the following manner:

1. We look at the total earnings you have been paid in the last 26 weeks ending with your last day of work.
    
2. We take into consideration the number of weeks in which you have worked in the last 26 weeks.
    
3. We determine the unemployment rate in your region and the minimum divisor that applies at that unemployment rate.
    
4. We determine your average weekly insured earnings by dividing your total earnings in the last 26 weeks by the greater of:
    
   a) the number of weeks you have worked in the last 26 weeks; or
   b) the minimum divisor number.
   Important: The divisor cannot be less than 14 or greater than 26.
    
5. We then multiply the result by 55% to obtain your weekly benefit. (See examples A, B and C).

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Particular situations...

If you have earned less than $225 a week, small weeks, anytime during the last 26 weeks of work, it may be possible for us, under certain conditions, to exclude earnings from small weeks from the calculation of your benefit rate. To find out how the exclusion of small weeks works...

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Working while on EI

You can't work full time and receive EI benefits. However, you can work part-time while you are receiving regular benefits. You can earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Any monies earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.

However, effective December 11, 2005, if you are living in one of the participating economic regions, or living anywhere in Canada as of December 7, 2008, the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits is the greater of $75 or 40 % of weekly benefits. To know more...

You must report any earnings you make while collecting regular benefits.

Tip: Use the reporting calendar — PDF 11 kb — to keep track of your earnings and hours worked. About PDF Files.

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Various types of earnings

Earnings paid or payable by your employer at the end of your employment or while you are receiving benefits, generally affect payment of your benefits. To know more...

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Quitting your job

If you voluntarily quit your job without just cause, you will not be paid regular benefits. After quitting a job, you must work the minimum number of insurable hours required to get regular benefits. However, you may still be paid maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits as long as you qualify for these benefits. To know more...

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Being fired for misconduct

If you are fired due to your own misconduct, you will not be paid regular benefits. After being fired for misconduct, you must work the minimum number of insurable hours required to get regular benefits. However, you may still be paid maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits as long as you qualify for these benefits. To know more...

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Corporate downsizing

When enterprises reduce permanently the size of their work force, EI will help them and their employees get through the process. If your employer is downsizing and offers you the opportunity to quit your job in order to protect another person’s job, you can leave your job without penalty. However, the company must show that the layoff is permanent and that your departure protects another person’s job.

When faced with downsizing it is best to first consult with an EI officer to ensure that all conditions which might affect you, are considered. Do not take anything for granted. To know more on work force reduction measures…

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Labour disputes

If a strike, a lockout or other form of labour dispute where you work causes you to lose your job or prevents you from going to work, you will generally not be paid EI benefits. The following conditions apply whether you are a union member or not and whether your job is part or full-time.

You may, however, be eligible to receive benefits if:

• you are not taking part in the dispute;  
• you are not giving money directly to support the dispute; and
• you are not directly interested in the dispute — i.e. your wages or working conditions, etc., are not affected by the outcome of the dispute.

If you are taking part in a labour dispute, you are not eligible for EI until :

• the strike or lockout is over; or

• you have found another regular job where you pay EI premiums.

If you had already arranged for an approved absence from work before the work stoppage started, such as sick leave, maternity leave, parental leave or authorized training, you may still be paid EI benefits.

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EI premiums

As of January 1^st, 2009 you must pay EI premiums on all your earnings up to the annual maximum salary of $42,300. The EI premium rate is set to $1.73 for every $100 of salary until $42,300 has been reached. The maximum contribution amount will be $731.79.

As for employees working in Quebec, the EI premium rate is set to $1.38 for every $100 of salary until $42,300 has been reached. The maximum contribution amount will be $583.74 for these individuals. 

To know more about EI premiums for 2009… 

To know more about EI premiums for 2008… 

To know more about EI premiums for 2007… 

There is no age limit for deducting EI premiums. In fact, if you are working in insurable employment, your employer deducts from you salary the applicable EI premiums, whatever your age. To know more on payroll deductions... 

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Regular benefits while temporarily absent from Canada

Under most circumstances you are not allowed to receive regular benefits for any period in which you are not in Canada. However, you can receive regular benefits provided that you are available for work in Canada and that you inform your Service Canada Centre of your temporary absence in the following situations :

• for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to attend a funeral of a member of your immediate family or a close relative;
• for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to accompany a member of your immediate family who is ill to a medical facility, provided the treatment is not readily available in your family member's area of residence;
• for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to visit a member of your immediate family who is seriously ill or injured;
• for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to attend a real job interview;
• for a period of not more than 14 consecutive days to conduct a real job search;
• to attend an approved training program.

Immediate family: Father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, foster parent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, spouse, your child or the child of your spouse,  father-in-law, mother-in-law, a dependant or a relative residing in your household or a relative with whom you permanently live with.

A  close relative:  A grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew.

Your  spouse: Person you are married to or common law partner of more than one year or less where children are present.  

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Your rights and responsibilities

It is very important for you to know about your rights and responsibilities...

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Appealing a decision  

If you disagree with an EI related decision you have the right to appeal. Information on how to file and prepare for an appeal can be found at Serving Employment Insurance Appellants...   

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Looking for work

While claiming regular benefits you must be actively looking for work...