Canada. Employment Insurance

Site: Toronto

Record #: MET4764
Last Full Update: 25 Nov 2024

Contact Information

Office Phone 1-800-206-7218 ; Automated information and reporting Service: 1-800-531-7555 ; Social Security Tribunal: 1-877-227-8577
TTY Phone 1-800-529-3742
Website www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html

Description and Service Details

Description (Service)

Service Overview

  • Temporary financial assistance and support in finding new employment
  • claimants must conduct a reasonable job search to remain eligible
  • Basic benefit rate is 55% of average insured earnings
  • maximum weekly benefit $668
  • duration of benefits based on insured weeks of work and regional unemployment rate

Working While on Claim

  • claimants keep 50 cents of EI benefits for every dollar earned in wages, up to a maximum of 90% of weekly earnings
  • claimants may choose instead to earn up to 40% of regular benefits or $75 per week (whichever is higher) with no reduction in EI payment

Family and caregiving benefits

  • for low income families who receive the Canada Child Benefit (see separate entry)
  • amount based on annual net family income
  • supplement will be added to EI payment

Special benefits for self-employed people

  • 6 types of special benefits including maternity, parental, sickness, family caregiver benefit for children, family caregiver benefit for adults, and compassionate care
  • Claimants may be able to receive combination of special benefits

My Service Canada Account -- computer access to claim information

Social Security Tribunal, 1-877-227-8577 -- independent appeal process for Employment Insurance decisions, see separate entry

Job Bank www.jobbank.gc.ca

  • online employment information and job postings
  • employers can post jobs online
  • see separate entry

Program of Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by Service Canada

Phone average wait time

Hours Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm to speak to an agent 
Recorded information Mon-Sun 24 hours
Areas Served Canada
Eligibility Persons legally entitled to work in Canada who have an interruption of earnings due to shortage of work, injury, quarantine, pregnancy, adoption, personal illness, or a grave illness in the family Claimants must have worked a minimum of 420-700 hours (depending on region) of insured employment in the year prior to application (600 hours for maternity, parental, sickness or compassionate care benefits)
  • workers 65 years and older pay Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and are entitled to EI benefits, though income from employment-related pensions will be deducted
  • Claimants who quit a job without just cause or are fired for misconduct are ineligible for regular benefits
  • just cause includes discrimination, sexual harassment, dangerous working conditions, significant change in wages or salary, leaving to care for child or immediate family member, major changes in work duties
Application Application must be made online or in person at Service Canada sites Application and Records of Employment from previous employers should be submitted immediately after employment has ended, as delay may cause loss of benefits
  • the first week of the claim is a waiting period for which no benefits are paid
  • claimants' reports must be correctly completed to generate payment, but claimants of maternity and parental, parents of critically ill children, or compassionate care benefits do not need to complete reports
Languages English, French
Fees None

Site Information

Located In Community Toronto
Address & Map
Toronto, ON
Canada
Physical Access Not Applicable

Categories and Classification

HCSD Main Heading Income Programs
HCSD Sub Heading Employment Insurance (EI) ; Social Assistance
Service Categories Employment Insurance

Agency Overview


Any omissions are unintentional and HIP disclaims any liability for unauthorized use or reproduction of any portion of this site. For a complete copyright and license statement please refer to our Terms of Use.