Frequently Asked Questions - Employment Insurance (EI) Special Benefits for Self-Employed People
- Special vs. regular EI benefits
- Eligibility
- My Service Canada Account
- Registration process
- Premiums
- Weekly amount of benefits
- Applying for EI special benefits
- Reporting process once receiving benefits
- Continuing to work or receiving income while receiving benefits
Special vs. regular EI benefits
What is the difference between regular EI benefits and special benefits?
Regular EI benefits are provided as temporary financial assistance to unemployed individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are available for work.
There are four types of EI special benefits available to Canadians, depending on their situation. EI special benefits include maternity, parental, sickness, and compassionate care benefits.
The EI program extends access to those special benefits to self-employed people on a voluntary basis.
Eligibility
I know I’m eligible to participate, but how can I find out if taking advantage of these benefits makes financial sense for me and my family?
Consider your own situation as you read through the examples. They have been designed to help you decide if these special benefits are right for you.
My Service Canada Account
Where can I get my personal access code for My Service Canada Account?
Once you have started the registration process for My Service Canada Account, your personal access code will take about 10 days to arrive by mail.
Registration process
If I have registered and I decide that this is not for me, what is involved in terminating my participation in the EI program?
Please refer to the Cancelling your participation page for information on this process.
Premiums
How will the Canada Revenue Agency calculate my EI premiums and when do I begin to pay them?
Please refer to the Calculation of premiums page for an explanation of the premium calculations and when they are payable.
Weekly amount of benefits
If I qualify for EI special benefits, how much will I receive each week?
Please refer to the Amount of weekly benefits page for an explanation of how benefits are calculated.
Applying for EI special benefits
Can I receive benefits as soon as I am registered?
No. You have to wait 12 months after the day you register before you will be able to apply for EI special benefits.
More information on applying for benefits is available on the Application information page.
Reporting process once receiving benefits
What is the reporting process?
During the period you are claiming benefits, you must complete bi-weekly reports to demonstrate your continuing entitlement.
The Employment Insurance Internet Reporting Service allows you to submit your reports using the Internet.
If my business generates self-employed earnings while I’m receiving EI special benefits, do I declare the gross or net amount?
The amount that you must declare is the gross amount of self-employed earnings minus any operating expenses related to those earnings.
Important note for farmers: Since January 1, 2011, earnings from farming transactions are calculated in the same manner as for any other self-employed person. This means that farmers calculate their earnings by deducting the operating expenses associated with the specific sale.
Continuing to work or receiving income while receiving benefits
Can I continue working part-time while receiving special benefits?
Yes, you can work part-time while receiving EI special benefits. You must always declare all your earnings from this part-time work on your bi-weekly EI reports.
If my business continues to generate income while I am receiving EI special benefits, how will this affect me?
You have to report any self-employed earnings your business generates for you while you are receiving EI benefits, including earnings you receive from profits or commissions. This can reduce your EI benefit amount depending on whether the earnings arise from services performed (service contract) or from a transaction (transactional contract).
Read through the examples to see what could happen to weekly benefit amounts when a business generates income while the owner is receiving benefits.
Additional information is also available on the Amount of weekly benefits page.