Regular Benefits

Here are the basic criteria to qualify for regular EI benefits.

You are entitled to receive regular EI benefits if you:

• have earned insurable employment (employer deducted your EI premium on your paycheque)
• lost your employment through a reason not of your own fault and your own decision (e.g. layoff, office closed, end of contract, etc)
• have at least seven (7) consecutive days of no work in the last 52 weeks
• have worked for the required insurable hours in the past 52 weeks and more
• are ready, willing, and capable of working each day (EI report declaration)
• are actively looking for work (with proof of job search record)

Unfortunately you are not entitled to receive EI regular benefits if you:

• quit; voluntarily left your employment without just cause;
• were dismissed for misconduct;
• are unemployed because you are directly participating in a labour dispute (strike, lockout, or other type of dispute).

 

How many insurable hours do I need to qualify?

In a normal situation, applicants need to acquire a combined minimum hours between 420 to 700 hours in the last 52 weeks to qualify for regular EI. Qualifying hours table.

The actual required hours varies based on the applicant’s Regional Rate of Unemployment.

 EI processing will not count the hours you have accumulated from a job you have voluntarily separated (e.g. quit for better job, or quit for school).

NEW! – A new temporary measure is now in place. To qualify for Regular EI, applicants need to have accumulated a total of 420 hours under an insurable employment(s) in the past 52 weeks (since stop work). This new measure will be in place until September 24th, 2022. More details…

 

 

What if I resign my job to attend school?

You may be qualified for Regular Employment Insurance benefits if you have voluntarily left your employment to attend training course(s) under the approval of an authorized employment counselor or officer. Read more…

What if I was forced to quit or leave my job?

In general, EI regular benefit is for contributors who have been separated from their job due to an external reason not under their control. However, in an situation where the external environment has forced you to take a decision to be separated from your employer, you may still be eligible for EI regular benefit. Employment Insurance office has a set of rules and guidelines to determine your eligibility under voluntary separation with just cause.

Voluntary leave explained – Service Canada

Digest of Benefit Entitlement Principles – Chapter 6 – Voluntarily Leaving Employment

Circumstances for quitting that considered as just cause

• sexual or other harassment
• needing to move with a spouse or dependent child to another place of residence
• discrimination
• working conditions that endanger your health or safety
• having to provide care for a child or another member of your immediate family
• reasonable assurance of another job in the immediate future
• major changes in the terms and conditions of your job affecting wages or salary
• excessive overtime or an employer’s refusal to pay for overtime work
• major changes in work duties
• difficult relations with a supervisor, for which you are not primarily responsible
• your employer is doing things which break the law
• discrimination because of membership in an association, organization or union of workers
• pressure from your employer or fellow workers to quit your job

 List of 40 Main Circumstances to Take Into Consideration (Alphabetical Order)

1. Adoption–Leave Not Granted
2. Armed Forces–Failure to Re-Enlist for a Further Term
3. Course of Instruction or an Employment Activity–referred by a Designated Authority and Starting Within a Short Term
4. Disciplinary Action–Penalty Clearly Disproportionate
5. Discrimination on a Prohibited Ground
6. Duties–Intolerable Situation
7. Health Adversely Affected by Work or Working Environment
8. Health Adversely Affected–on Credible and Convincing Explanations from the Claimant
9. Health Adversely Affected–on Doctor’s Advice
10. Illness in Immediate Family–Presence Required
11. Intolerable Situations–Living Accommodations, Food, Facilities, Employment Amenities
12. Moral Objections Based on Religious Beliefs
13. Moral Objections: Employer’s Practices Contrary to Professional Ethics, Law
14. Moral Objections: Illegal Activities or Contrary to Fundamental Ethical Values
15. Moving Because of an Anticipated Marriage
16. Moving with Parents in the Case of a Minor
17. Obligation to Accompany a Spouse, Common-Law Partner or Dependent Child to Another Residence
18. Obligation to Care for a Child or a Mmember of the Immediate Family
19. Overtime–Excessive Hours
20. Overtime–Failure to Pay
21. Pregnancy–Incapacity to Work and Leave Not Granted
22. Reasonable Assurance of Another Employment in the Immediate Future
23. Relation with Authority–Hostile Atmosphere Created by Superiors
24. Relation with Co-Workers–Abusive Treatment
25. Retirement–Undue Pressures from Employer
26. Sexual or Other Harassment
27. To Start a Business or to Become Self-Employed in a Near Future
28. Transportation Problems–Serious, Even Insolvable
29. Union Relations–Employer’s Abusive Treatment
30. Union Relations–No Longer Acting as Strike-Breaker
31. Wages–Formal Promise of Increase Not Fulfilled
32. Wages–Hiring Conditions Not Honoured
33. Wages–Loss Due to Employer’s Financial Difficulties
34. Wages–Unjustified Reduction
35. Wages or Salary Less Than Provided by Legislation
36. Work Away from Family–Serious Illness in the Family
37. Work Away from Family–After a Reasonable Period of Absence
38. Working Conditions–Significant Unilateral Changes
39. Working Conditions–Unreasonable, Restrictive
40. Working Conditions that Constitute a Danger to Health or Safety