Employment Insurance (EI): regular, sickness, maternity and parental, caregiving, and apprentices in training
Employment Insurance (EI): regular, sickness, maternity and parental, caregiving, and apprentices in training is a program run by Service Canada that gives up to $729 a week to workers who lost their job through no fault of their own, or who stop working because they are sick, pregnant or a new parent, or caring for someone critically ill or at the end of life; and apprentices in full-time technical training. Checked on the official page on October 8, 2026.
Up to $729 a week
You likely qualify if: Lost your job, or sick, pregnant, a new parent or caregiving; Regular: 420 to 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks; Others: 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks; Without pay 7+ days, or weekly pay down over 40%.
Apply as soon as you stop working: if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. While on EI you must complete reports every 2 weeks.
Free. Never pay anyone to apply.
ApplySend to someone who needs thisChecked on October 8, 2026 on the official page
We last read this on October 8, 2026. That was a while ago, so please check their own website before you rely on it, and tell us below if something changed.
Temporary income from the Government of Canada, through one Employment Insurance application: regular benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own and are ready to work; sickness benefits if you cannot work for medical reasons; maternity and parental benefits around a birth or adoption; caregiving benefits to care for someone critically ill or injured, or at the end of life; and regular benefits for apprentices in full-time technical training. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $729 a week.
Who qualifies
Workers who lost their job through no fault of their own, or who stop working because they are sick, pregnant or a new parent, or caring for someone critically ill or at the end of life; and apprentices in full-time technical training. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $729 a week.
You likely qualify if:
- Lost your job, or sick, pregnant, a new parent or caregiving
- Regular: 420 to 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks
- Others: 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks
- Without pay 7+ days, or weekly pay down over 40%
How to apply
- Apply on their application form.
- Questions? 1-800-206-7218
- Come back here and tell us if it worked.
Where else they are
Their website is canada.ca/.../ei-regular-benefit.html.
Good to know
- CostFree
- LanguagesEnglish, French
- Their stepsApply online for the type you need as soon as you stop working; waiting over 4 weeks may cost you benefits. Get your Record of Employment (ROE) from each employer. Sickness or caregiving: get the medical certificate signed by a doctor or nurse practitioner. Apprentices: enter the 16-digit reference code from your training referral.
Did this way in answer?
Talk to a person: 1-800-206-7218
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What to bring
- Your Record of Employment from each employer
- Your SIN and bank account numbers
- A medical certificate (sickness and caregiving)
- Apprentices: the 16-digit reference code
Dates
Apply as soon as you stop working: if you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. While on EI you must complete reports every 2 weeks.
Source
Checked on October 8, 2026 on the official pageRun by Service Canada.
We read this on their own website on October 8, 2026. Read from: canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html, canada.ca/.../ei-regular-benefit.html, canada.ca/.../eligibility.html, canada.ca/.../benefit-amount.html, canada.ca/.../apply.html, canada.ca/.../ei-individual.html, canada.ca/.../ei-maternity-parental.html, canada.ca/.../eligibility.html, canada.ca/.../apply.html, canada.ca/.../ei-sickness.html, canada.ca/.../qualify.html, canada.ca/.../apply.html, canada.ca/.../caregiving.html, canada.ca/.../eligibility.html, canada.ca/.../apply.html, canada.ca/.../ei-apprentices.html.
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