Digest of Benefit Entitlement Principles Chapter 15 - Section 2
15.2.0 Qualification based on earnings
Temporary measure(s) to better support workers
From April 6, 2025, to July 12, 2025, the regional rate of unemployment (RRU) is set as follows:
- regions with a RRU of 6.1% or less will be set to 7.1%. Claimants will not need more than 630 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period (QP) to qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits and $3,800 of insurable earnings to qualify for EI fishing benefits
- regions with a RRU greater than 6.1% and less than 12.1%, 1% will be added to the applicable RRU. Claimants will need between 455 and 630 hours of insurable employment in the QP to qualify for regular benefits. In addition, fishers need between $2,700 and $3,800 of insurable earnings to qualify for fishing benefits
- regions where the RRU is between 12.1% and 13%, the rate is set at 13.1%. Claimants will not need more than 420 hours of insurable employment in their QP to qualify for regular benefits and fishers will not need more than $2,500 of insurable earnings to qualify for fishing benefits
- regions where the RRU is 13.1% or greater, there is no change to the applicable RRU
The RRU also impacts a claimant's benefit rate and the number of weeks they may receive benefits.
If a claimant has violations on their EI file, they may still need more insurable hours or earnings to qualify for benefits.
A fundamental requirement to qualify for a fishing claim is that a fisher must not qualify for a non-fishing claim. In the event that sufficient insurable hours from non-fishing employment allow for the establishment of a non-fishing claim, the fisher may not choose the type of claim they wish to receive–a non-fishing claim must be established Footnote 1 .
Fishers require $2,500 to $4,200 earnings from self-employment in fishing to qualify for fishing benefits depending upon the regional rate of unemployment Footnote 2 .
15.2.1 Violations and fishing claims
Violations are counted and applied to fishing claims in the same manner as for non-fishing claims. Fishing claims are subject to the increased entrance requirements Footnote 3 with modifications, as circumstances require for fishing benefits.
The amount of insurable earnings that a claimant, requires to qualify for fishing benefits is increased to the amount provided in the Regulations Table Footnote 4 , where the claimant accumulated one or more violations in the 260 weeks before making an initial claim for benefits.
Once the violation is used to increase entrance requirements on two initial claims for fishing benefits, the claimant is relieved of the violation and its impact on the entrance requirements for subsequent claims Footnote 5 .
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