Step 1: Gather required information

As part of the application process, you'll need to provide information and documents to us.

Don’t wait until you have the documents to apply. Complete and submit your online application right away. You can send the required documents after you apply.

• Personal information

  Make sure you have the following information to complete your application:

  • the names and addresses of your employers in the past 52 weeks
  • the dates you were employed with each employer and the reasons you’re no longer employed with them
  • your detailed explanation of the facts if you quit or were dismissed from any job in the past 52 weeks
  • your full mailing address and your home address, if they’re different
  • your social insurance number (SIN)
  • the last name at birth of 1 of your parents
  • information about the person requiring care or support, including:
    • their full name
    • their date of birth
    • their home address
  • your banking information to sign up for direct deposit, including:
    • the name of your financial institution
    • your branch (transit) number
    • your account number

• Authorization to release a medical certificate

  Medical doctors and nurse practitioners aren't allowed to release medical information about a patient without the patient’s consent.

  For a critically ill or injured child or adult

  The critically ill or injured person or their legal representative must complete this form to authorize the release of medical information: Authorization to release a medical certificate for Employment Insurance family caregiver benefits.

  In the case of a critically ill or injured child, the parent or legal guardian of the child must complete the form.

  The critically ill or injured person or their legal representative must submit the form to us at the same time as the medical certificate. The medical doctor or nurse practitioner indicates on the medical certificate if the critically ill or injured person is capable of consenting to the release of their medical information. If they’re capable, they must sign the form. If they’re not capable of signing, their legal representative must sign.

  For a person needing end-of-life care

  The person requiring end-of-life care or their legal representative must complete this form to authorize the release of medical information: Authorization to release a medical certificate for Employment Insurance.

  In the case of end-of-life care for a child, the parent or legal guardian of the child must complete the form.

  The person requiring end-of-life care or their legal representative must submit the form to us at the same time as the medical certificate. The medical doctor or nurse practitioner indicates on the medical certificate if the person needing end-of-life care is capable of consenting to the release of their medical information. If they’re capable, they must sign the form. If they’re not capable of signing, their legal representative must sign.

• Medical certificate

  For a critically ill or injured child or adult

  A medical doctor or nurse practitioner must complete and sign this form: Medical Certificate For Employment Insurance Family Caregiver Benefits.

  This certificate:

  • confirms that the person is critically ill or injured
  • confirms that the person needs the care or support of 1 or more caregivers
  • provides the specific time period for which the critically ill or injured person is expected to need care or support

  The number of weeks you're entitled to receive benefits and the start date of benefits are based on the information provided on the medical certificate.

  If the critically ill or injured person needs care or support for a longer period of time than stated on the medical certificate, you'll need a second certificate from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to extend the original time period. You or other caregivers can't receive benefits beyond the maximum number of weeks payable that each benefit allows.

  For a person needing end-of-life care

  A medical doctor or nurse practitioner must complete and sign this form: Medical Certificate for Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits.

  This certificate:

  • confirms that the person has a serious medical condition
  • confirms that the person is at significant risk of death within 26 weeks
  • confirms that the person needs the care or support of one 1 or more caregivers

  You can receive benefits during the 52 weeks following the date the person is certified to be in need of end-of-life care.

  Only one medical certificate is required. This applies if only one caregiver is claiming the 26 weeks of benefits, or if benefits are being shared. If more than one medical certificate is submitted, the first valid certificate determines the start and end dates of the 52-week timeframe.

• Records of employment

  Employers issue records of employment (ROEs) to provide information about your work history. We use this information to determine:

  • whether you’re eligible to receive EI benefits
  • how much you'll receive

  You can visit My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to view ROEs that have been issued for you by past and recent employers.

  Electronic ROEs

  Electronic ROEs are sent directly to Service Canada by employers. You don’t need to request copies from your employer to provide to us.

  Paper ROEs

  If your employer issues paper ROEs, you must request copies of all ROEs issued for you in the past 52 weeks or since the start of your last claim, whichever is shorter. You’ll need to provide them to us as soon as possible after you submit your application for EI benefits. You can mail them or drop them off at a Service Canada Centre.

• Attestation for non-family members

  You don’t have to be related to or live with the person you care for or support. You can receive caregiving benefits to provide care or support to a person who considers you to be like family.

  If you're not related to the person needing care or support, the person or their legal representative must complete and sign this form to confirm that they consider you to be like family: Family member attestation.

  For a child, the parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the form.

Step 2: Complete the online application

The online application takes about 1 hour to complete.

If you don’t complete the application all at once, you can come back to it later using the temporary password that you receive when you start.

Your information is saved for 72 hours (3 days) from the time you start. If you don’t submit the application within this time:

• it will be deleted, and
• you'll have to start a new application

When you apply for EI benefits, we’ll ask for your email address. We may send you an email to provide you with information or ask you to call us if we can't reach you by phone.

Please note that we won’t ask you to send us information by email.

Apply

Step 3: Provide required documents

After you complete your online application, submit the required documents to us.

You can:

• mail them to us
• drop them off at a Service Canada Centre

Step 4: A benefit statement and access code will arrive by mail

Once your application is received, we’ll mail you a benefit statement with a 4-digit access code. You’ll need this code and your SIN to follow up on your application. Receiving an EI benefit statement doesn’t mean that we’ve made a decision about your claim.

Step 5: Check the status of your application

To check the status of your application, you can:

• register or sign into MSCA
• contact Service Canada