Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits in Canada: A Complete Guide for Newcomers
By WelcomeAide Team
Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits provide temporary income replacement if you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or quarantine. You can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. To qualify, you need a medical certificate, enough insurable hours, and to have experienced a reduction in earnings of more than 40%. This guide covers everything newcomers need to know about EI sickness benefits, from eligibility to application to working while on benefits.
What Are EI Sickness Benefits?
Canada's Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits are a vital safety net for workers who become unable to work due to illness, injury, or quarantine. Unlike workplace disability benefits provided by some employers, EI sickness benefits are a federal government program available to all eligible workers in Canada, regardless of the size of their employer or whether their workplace offers private disability insurance.
For newcomers to Canada who may not yet have long-term employment histories or access to employer-sponsored disability plans, EI sickness benefits can be a crucial lifeline during a health crisis. The program ensures that you have some income while you recover from an illness or injury, so you do not have to choose between your health and paying your bills.
As of December 2022, the maximum duration of EI sickness benefits was extended from 15 weeks to 26 weeks, providing significantly more coverage for people dealing with serious or prolonged health conditions. This extension was a major improvement for workers facing cancer treatment, recovery from surgery, mental health conditions, and other serious illnesses that require extended time away from work.
Eligibility Requirements
Insurable Hours
To qualify for EI sickness benefits, you must have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment in the 52 weeks before your claim, or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter. Insurable employment includes most paid work in Canada where EI premiums are deducted from your pay. If you have been working part-time or have changed jobs, your hours from all insurable employment during the qualifying period are combined.
For newcomers who have recently started working in Canada, accumulating 600 hours may take several months. At a full-time job of 40 hours per week, you would reach 600 hours in approximately 15 weeks. At a part-time job of 20 hours per week, it would take approximately 30 weeks. It is important to keep your pay stubs and Records of Employment (ROE) from all employers, as you will need these to prove your insurable hours when filing a claim.
Medical Certificate Requirement
You must obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner stating that you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or quarantine, and indicating the expected duration of your incapacity. A qualified medical practitioner can be a physician, a specialist, a nurse practitioner, a chiropractor, a dentist, or a midwife, depending on the nature of your condition. The medical certificate does not need to disclose your specific diagnosis to Service Canada; it only needs to confirm that you are unable to work and for how long.
Other Eligibility Conditions
In addition to the insurable hours and medical certificate requirements, you must have experienced a reduction in your normal weekly earnings of more than 40% due to your illness or injury. You must also be in Canada during the period you are receiving benefits (with some exceptions for medical treatment abroad). You do not need to be "looking for work" while receiving EI sickness benefits, unlike regular EI benefits, because the requirement is that you are unable to work, not that you are available for work.
How to Apply for EI Sickness Benefits
Step-by-Step Application Process
You can apply for EI sickness benefits online through the Service Canada website. Here is the process:
- Gather your Social Insurance Number, personal identification, your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer, and your medical certificate
- Complete the online application through My Service Canada Account or the EI application portal
- Your employer should issue your ROE electronically within five days of your last day of work; if they do not, contact your employer and request it
- Submit your application as soon as possible after you stop working; there is a one-week unpaid waiting period before benefits begin
- Monitor your My Service Canada Account for updates on your claim status and any requests for additional information
Processing times vary, but you should generally expect to wait approximately 28 days from the date you file your application to receive your first payment. If your claim is straightforward and all documents are in order, it may be processed faster. If additional information is required, it may take longer.
How Much Will You Receive?
Calculating Your Benefit Amount
EI sickness benefits are calculated at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum weekly amount. The maximum insurable earnings amount is set annually; in recent years, the maximum weekly benefit has been approximately $650 to $670 per week. If your average weekly earnings are lower, your benefit will be 55% of that lower amount. For example, if your average insurable weekly earnings are $800, your weekly EI sickness benefit would be $440 (55% of $800).
The benefit amount is calculated based on your best weeks of earnings during the qualifying period. Service Canada uses a variable best weeks approach, where the number of best weeks used in the calculation depends on the unemployment rate in your economic region. In regions with higher unemployment, fewer best weeks are used, which can result in a higher average for workers who had some lower-earning weeks.
The One-Week Waiting Period
There is a mandatory one-week unpaid waiting period at the beginning of your EI sickness claim. This is similar to a deductible on an insurance policy. You will not receive benefits for the first week of your claim, but you must still complete your biweekly reports during this period. If you are transitioning from another type of EI benefit (such as regular EI) to sickness benefits, you may not need to serve another waiting period if you already served one on your current claim.
Working While Receiving EI Sickness Benefits
If you are able to do some work while recovering from your illness or injury, you may be able to earn some income while still receiving EI sickness benefits. Under the Working While on Claim provisions, you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit amount (or $50, whichever is higher) without any deduction from your EI benefits. Earnings above that threshold are deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.
However, it is important to understand that working while on EI sickness benefits can be complicated. If you work too many hours or earn too much, Service Canada may determine that you are no longer unable to work, which could end your sickness benefit claim. If your medical practitioner has indicated that you can do some limited work as part of your recovery, make sure this is documented and that you accurately report your earnings on your biweekly EI reports.
Compassionate Care Benefits
When a Family Member Is Seriously Ill
While not technically the same as EI sickness benefits, EI compassionate care benefits are a related type of EI special benefit that newcomers should know about. Compassionate care benefits provide up to 26 weeks of income support to people who need to take time away from work to provide care or support to a family member who has a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks. A medical certificate from the family member's physician is required.
Compassionate care benefits can be shared among eligible family members. For example, if multiple family members need to take turns providing care, they can share the 26 weeks of benefits among them. The eligibility requirements are similar to EI sickness benefits: you need 600 insurable hours and must have experienced a reduction in earnings.
EI Sickness Benefits and Other Supports
EI sickness benefits can interact with other income sources and benefits. If you receive workplace sick pay or short-term disability insurance from your employer during the same period, your EI sickness benefits may be reduced or you may need to wait until your employer-provided benefits end before EI sickness benefits begin. If you receive WorkSafeBC (workers' compensation) benefits for the same condition, you generally cannot receive EI sickness benefits at the same time, as workers' compensation takes priority for workplace injuries.
If your illness or injury is long-term and extends beyond the 26-week EI sickness benefit period, you may want to explore CPP disability benefits or provincial disability assistance. Our guide to financial help for newcomers in BC covers additional resources that may be available to you. For information about your employment rights, including job protection while on medical leave, consult our employment rights guide. And our healthcare guide explains how to access medical care in British Columbia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive EI sickness benefits if I am on a work permit?
Yes. If you are working in Canada on a valid work permit and EI premiums are deducted from your pay, you are eligible to apply for EI sickness benefits, provided you meet the insurable hours and other eligibility requirements. Your immigration status does not disqualify you from EI benefits as long as you have a valid SIN and have been paying EI premiums.
What if my employer does not issue my Record of Employment?
If your employer does not issue your ROE within the required timeframe, you should first contact your employer directly to request it. If they still do not provide it, you can contact Service Canada and they will intervene on your behalf. You can still submit your EI application without an ROE, but processing may be delayed. Service Canada can access electronic ROEs that have been submitted by your employer.
Getting Help with Your EI Sickness Claim
WelcomeAide can help you understand EI sickness benefits and connect you with settlement services and community organizations that provide free assistance with government benefit applications. Use our AI Newcomer Navigator to ask questions about EI, disability benefits, or any settlement topic in your language. Explore our blog for more newcomer guides, learn about our mission, or see how to get involved in supporting newcomer communities.