Canada. Employment Insurance

Service Overview

• Temporary financial assistance and support in finding new employment
• claimants must conduct a reasonable job search to remain eligible
• Basic benefit rate is 55% of average insured earnings
• maximum weekly benefit $668
• duration of benefits based on insured weeks of work and regional unemployment rate

Working While on Claim

• claimants keep 50 cents of EI benefits for every dollar earned in wages, up to a maximum of 90% of weekly earnings
• claimants may choose instead to earn up to 40% of regular benefits or $75 per week (whichever is higher) with no reduction in EI payment

Family and caregiving benefits

• for low income families who receive the Canada Child Benefit (see separate entry)
• amount based on annual net family income
• supplement will be added to EI payment

Special benefits for self-employed people

• 6 types of special benefits including maternity, parental, sickness, family caregiver benefit for children, family caregiver benefit for adults, and compassionate care
• Claimants may be able to receive combination of special benefits
  

My Service Canada Account -- computer access to claim information

​Social Security Tribunal, 1-877-227-8577 -- independent appeal process for Employment Insurance decisions, see separate entry

Job Bank www.jobbank.gc.ca

• online employment information and job postings
• employers can post jobs online
• see separate entry

Program of Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada

Phone average wait time

• workers 65 years and older pay Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and are entitled to EI benefits, though income from employment-related pensions will be deducted
  
• Claimants who quit a job without just cause or are fired for misconduct are ineligible for regular benefits
  
• just cause includes discrimination, sexual harassment, dangerous working conditions, significant change in wages or salary, leaving to care for child or immediate family member, major changes in work duties

• the first week of the claim is a waiting period for which no benefits are paid
• claimants' reports must be correctly completed to generate payment, but claimants of maternity and parental, parents of critically ill children, or compassionate care benefits do not need to complete reports

• Income Support - Employment Insurance (EI)