What caregiving benefits offer
| Benefit name | Maximum weeks payable | Who you are providing care to |
|---|---|---|
| Family caregiver benefit for children | up to 35 weeks | A critically ill or injured person under 18 |
| Family caregiver benefit for adults | up to 15 weeks | A critically ill or injured person 18 or over |
| Compassionate care benefits | up to 26 weeks | A person of any age who requires end-of-life care |
You can receive benefits during the 52 weeks following the date the person is certified by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to be critically ill or injured or in need of end-of-life care. You can take the weeks of benefits within this timeframe either all at once or in separate periods. The weeks of benefits can be shared by eligible caregivers, either at the same time or one after another.
Definitions
Caregiver
A caregiver is a family member or someone who is considered to be like family providing care or support to the person who is critically ill or injured or needing end-of-life care.
Family member
A family member includes immediate family as well as other relatives and individuals considered to be like family, whether or not related by marriage, common-law partnership, or any legal parent-child relationship.
Care or support
Care is defined as participating in the care of a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. Support is defined as providing psychological or emotional support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care.
Critically ill or injured person
A critically ill or injured person is someone whose baseline state of health has changed significantly because of illness or injury. As a result, their life is at risk and they need the care or support of at least one caregiver. Their condition must be certified by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner. If the person is already living with a chronic medical condition, caregivers are not eligible for benefits unless the person’s health changes significantly because of a new and acute life-threatening event.
End-of-life care
End-of-life care is defined as providing care or support to a person who has a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks (6 months). The person also requires the care or support of at least one caregiver. Their condition must be certified by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner.
Find out more on Canada.ca (You will be redirected to Service Canada’s website) https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/caregiving.html