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Am I eligible for Employment Insurance (EI)?

If you lose your job through no fault of your own and worked enough hours during the year, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. You must meet specific criteria to qualify.

Eligibility Criteria

You will qualify for regular benefits if you have:

insurable employment (casual work is considered non-insurable employment. Further reading below).
worked between 400-700 hours (this calculation is based on your region) of the qualifying period - the last 52 weeks.
lost your job by no fault of your own, were laid off, or were a victim of a weather hazard or natural disaster.
paid into the EI program, your employer typically deducts an EI amount from your paycheque.
been without pay for at least seven consecutive days in the last 52 weeks.

*NOTE: You may not be eligible for EI benefits if you were fired due to misconduct, quit your job voluntarily, or are in a labour dispute like a strike or work lockout (unionized employees). Some reasons for quitting or being fired are considered "just cause." If you believe you quit your job for good reason or were fired without cause, explain your situation when you apply for EI benefits. In some cases, you may still be eligible for the benefits.

Casual Work Non-Insurable

Work must meet the following two criteria to be considered casual and not insurable:

Work contracted by an employer for purposes other than their direct business or trade.
Work that is infrequent, occasional or unpredictable.

Special Benefits for Self-Employed or Independent Workers

Self-employed workers who need to take time off work due to special circumstances may qualify for special benefits. Special benefits provide temporary financial support to eligible insured workers. If you are self-employed, you can register for the EI program by paying the premiums.

To qualify for special benefits you must show that:

You are losing 40% or more of your weekly income, and
You have worked 600 hours or more during the qualifying period (last 52 weeks) or since your last claim.

Some independent workers are already registered through the regular EI benefit program and do not need to apply for special benefits. Explames of individuals who do not qualify include:

barbers and hairdressers
taxi drivers, and drivers of other passenger vehicles who aren’t hired as employees but whose employment is insurable under the EI Regulations
fishers who are included as insured persons under the EI Fishing Regulations

There are different types of special benefits and each has additional requirements.

Maternity and Paternal Benefits

Provides assistance for individuals who are pregnant, looking to start a family, or who are away caring for a newborn or adopted child.

Find more information on maternity and parental benefits on the Government of Canada website.

Sickness Benefits

It provides up to 26 weeks of financial assistance if you are sick and can’t work for medical reasons.

You must get a medical certificate to confirm how long your illness will affect you.

You must show that you cannot work but would work if you were not sick or hurt.

Find more information about sickness benefits on the Government of Canada website.

Caregiver Benefits

It allows you to take time off work to care for a sick or critically injured family member or someone needing end-of-life care.

Find more information about caregiver benefits on the Government of Canada website.

To apply for EI, see also How do I apply for EI?

For More Information

Employment Insurance (EI) - Official information about EI on the Service Canada website.
Employment Insurance - This booklet has clear language information about Employment Insurance. From CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario).e
Have you been fired or laid off? - If you have been fired or laid off with no notice, or no pay, your employer may be breaking the law. Find out about your rights. This pamphlet is about your rights under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA). From CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario).
Benefits Wayfinder - This bilingual one-stop portal lets you search for federal, provincial, and territorial benefits.From Prosper Canada.