General information by telephone

We announced temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians looking for work.

As of September 27, you may be eligible for EI if you:

• were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
• received the CERB, the 52 week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
• stopped working through no fault of your own
• have not quit your job voluntarily
• are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
• are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)

Learn more about the EI temporary changes

If you become eligible for EI benefits on or after September 27, you will receive a minimum benefit rate of $500 per week.

If you do not become eligible for EI, you may be eligible for the proposed new benefits:

• Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
• DCanada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

We would provide $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who are self-employed or are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and who still require income support.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

• are not eligible for EI
• reside in Canada
• are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• have stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are available and looking for work; or are working and have had a reduction in their employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19
• had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
• have not quit your job voluntarily

This benefit would be effective from September 27 for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

We would provide $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who cannot work because they are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

• reside in Canada
• are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
• have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of being sick or required to self-isolate for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
• are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
• are not in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.

This benefit would be effective from September 27, for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

We would provide $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible workers who cannot work because they must provide care to children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares or care facilities.

You may be eligible for this benefit if you:

• reside in Canada
• are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
• have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
• have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of one of the following conditions:
  • must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
    • because their school or daycare is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    • who cannot attend school or daycare under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19
    • because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • must provide care to a family member with a disability or a dependent:
    • because their day program or care facility is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19
    • who cannot attend their day program or care facility under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
    • because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
• are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
• are not in in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week

This benefit would be effective from September 27 for one year.

This benefit is pending the passage of legislation in the House of Commons and Senate. More details will be made available soon.

The CERB is jointly delivered by Service Canada (using EI) and the Canada Revenue Agency.

You must contact the department you applied with.

Get help applying: