Benefit Period of Employment Insurance (8:V): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:30, 27 November 2025

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on 1 August 2025.

When a claim is established, the claimant’s “benefit period” will begin. Under s. 10(1) of the EI Act, the benefit period begins on the Sunday at the beginning of the week in which the interruption of earnings occurs, or on the Sunday of the week in which the initial claim for benefit is made, whichever is later.

Benefits will only be paid during the benefit period.

A. Antedating

If an application for EI benefits was not filed within the first four weeks after the week in which the claimant experienced their interruption of earnings, they can ask that the claim be antedated back to the first date when it could have been filed under s. 10(4). The claimant must establish that good cause existed for the delay in filing. “Good cause” must be demonstrated for each day until the date the application was actually made. If the claim is filed within the first four weeks, it is automatically antedated to the first date of eligibility.

What is “Good Cause”? Good cause has typically been interpreted narrowly. Simple ignorance of the requirements of the EI Act has not been considered good cause, though reasonable reliance on bad advice from the employer, union, a legal advisor, or the Commission itself usually meets the requirements.

In Attorney General v Burke, 2012 FCA 139, a claimant asked for his application to be backdated because he had expected to be rehired and hence did not apply for EI until after the regular deadline. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the previous decisions granting an antedate on the basis that the claimant had done what a reasonable person would do.

B. Income That is Treated as Earnings

Section 35(2) of the EI Regulations defines what will be considered earnings for EI purposes.

Income that counts as “earnings” includes, but is not limited to:

a) wages, salary, or commission;

b) retirement pension;

c) bonuses and gratuities;

d) severance pay;

e) vacation pay;

f) workers’ compensation payments;

g) group wage-loss insurance.

It is important to note that some income, while generally considered as earnings, will not prevent an interruption of earnings. For example, receiving severance pay or vacation pay following a layoff will not delay the occurrence of an interruption of earnings. The claimant should still apply for EI as soon as possible after they stop working.

Although the claimant will need to wait until the received funds are exhausted before being eligible to receive benefits, they must still apply for EI immediately. In such cases, the benefit period will be extended to make up for the weeks it takes to use up these earnings.

C. Income That Is Not Treated as Earnings

Section 35(7) of the EI Regulations exempts certain sources of income from being regarded as earnings. These include:

disability pension or a lump sum or pension paid in full and final settlement of a claim made for workers’ compensation payments;
payments under a sickness or disability wage-loss indemnity plan that is not a group plan;
relief grants in cash or in kind;
retroactive increases in wages or salary;

For more details, see section 35(7) of the EI Regulations.

In certain circumstances some earnings may not delay the start of an EI claim. In Attorney General of Canada v Bielich, 2005 FCA 363, the court allowed a $24,000 payment to be exempted from the claimant’s allocation of earnings because the purpose of the payment was to compensate the claimant for giving up his right to seek reinstatement, not to compensate for lost pay.

Note: Retirement pensions are generally considered income and are deducted from EI benefits. However, if the claimant accumulates all the hours needed to qualify for EI after the date their pension starts, then their pension money will not be deducted from their EI benefits (see EI Regulations, s. 35(7)(e)).

D. The Waiting Period

Before receiving any EI benefits, a claimant must serve a one week “waiting period” during which they are unemployed and otherwise eligible for benefits (EI Act, s. 13).

This waiting period also applies to maternity, parental, caregiver, and sickness claims. For caregiver benefits, it can be deferred for the second family member if benefits are split, but the first person must serve it. If a claimant works during the waiting period, 100 percent of their earnings will be deducted from the first three (and no more than three) weekly benefit cheques.

E. Length of Benefit Period

The benefit period for regular EI benefits is 52 weeks (EI Act, s. 10(2)). However, this period can sometimes be extended to more than 52 weeks. The criteria for this is set out in s. 10(10) of the EI Act. The benefit period can be extended when a claimant proves that, for any week during that benefit period, the claimant was not entitled to benefit by reason of:

being confined in a jail, penitentiary, or other similar institution and they were not found guilty of the offence for which they were being held or any other offence arising out of the same transaction;
receiving earnings paid because of the complete severance of their relationship with their former employer (i.e., “using up” severance pay, vacation pay, etc.);
receiving workers’ compensation payments for an illness or injury; or
receiving payments under a provincial law on the basis of having ceased to work because continuing to work would have entailed danger to the claimant, their unborn child, or a child they are breast-feeding. BC residents are not entitled to these payments, this does not apply.

F. Payment of Regular Benefits

An EI claimant can be paid regular benefits from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in their region at the time they file their claim, and the amount of insurable hours they have accumulated in their qualifying period.

G. Termination of Benefit Period

Once a benefit period is established, it continues to run, regardless of whether the claimant has resumed employment (although full benefits will not be paid in this case), unless the benefit period is terminated.

Section 10(8) of the EI Act states that a benefit period terminates when:

a) no further benefits are payable to the claimant in their benefit period; or

b) the claimant

requests that their benefit period end,
makes a new initial claim for benefits, and
qualifies as an insured person to receive benefits, or qualifies as a self-employed person to receive benefits, under the Act.

Note: The calculation of benefit rates under the EI Act makes the timing of the decision to conclude one claim and initiate a new one crucial.

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+{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= 1 August 2025}}
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-== A. Introduction ==
+When a claim is established, the claimant’s “benefit period” will begin. Under s. 10(1) of the ''EI Act'', the benefit period begins on the Sunday at the beginning of the week in which the interruption of earnings occurs, or on the Sunday of the week in which the initial claim for benefit is made, whichever is later.
-When a claim is established, the claimant’s “benefit period” will begin. Under s 10(1) of the ''EI Act'', the benefit period begins on the  Sunday at the beginning of the week in which the interruption of earnings occurs, or on the Sunday of the week in which the initial claim for benefit is made, whichever is later, though this is subject to antedating. Benefits will only be paid during the benefit period.
+Benefits will only be paid during the benefit period.
-== B. Antedating ==
+== A. Antedating ==
-If an application for EI benefits was not filed within the first four weeks after the week in which the claimant experienced their interruption of earnings inter, he or she can ask that the claim be antedated back to the first date when it could have been filed under s 10(4).  The claimant must establish that good cause existed for the delay in filing.  “Good cause” must be demonstrated for each day until the date of application was actually made.  If the claim is filed within the first four weeks, it is automatically antedated to the first date of eligibility.
+If an application for EI benefits was not filed within the first four weeks after the week in which the claimant experienced their interruption of earnings, they can ask that the claim be antedated back to the first date when it could have been filed under s. 10(4). The claimant must establish that good cause existed for the delay in filing. “Good cause” must be demonstrated for each day until the date the application was actually made. If the claim is filed within the first four weeks, it is automatically antedated to the first date of eligibility.
-:'''What is “Good Cause”?'''  Good cause has typically been interpreted narrowly.  In one case, the applicant was in the hospital and the Commission denied his application for antedating on the grounds that his wife should have made the claim on his behalf.  Simple ignorance of the requirements of the EI Act has not been considered good cause either, though reasonable reliance on bad advice from the employer, union, a legal advisor or the Commission itself usually meets the requirements.
+:'''What is “Good Cause”?''' Good cause has typically been interpreted narrowly. Simple ignorance of the requirements of the EI Act has not been considered good cause, though reasonable reliance on bad advice from the employer, union, a legal advisor, or the Commission itself usually meets the requirements.
-:In ''Attorney General v Burke'', 2012 FCA 139, a claimant asked for his application to be back dated because he had expected to be rehired and hence did not apply for EI until after the regular deadline.  The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the previous decisions granting an antedate on the basis that the claimant had done what a reasonable person would do.
+:In ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fca/doc/2012/2012fca139/2012fca139.html Attorney General v Burke]'', 2012 FCA 139, a claimant asked for his application to be backdated because he had expected to be rehired and hence did not apply for EI until after the regular deadline. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the previous decisions granting an antedate on the basis that the claimant had done what a reasonable person would do.
-== C. Income That is Treated as Earnings ==
+== B. Income That is Treated as Earnings ==
-Section 35(2) of the EI Regulations defines what will be considered earnings for EI purposes. Income that counts as “earnings” includes, but is not limited to:
+Section 35(2) of the ''EI Regulations'' defines what will be considered earnings for EI purposes.
-*a) severance pay;
-*b) retirement payments and retirement leave credits or payments in lieu;
-*c) most bonuses and gratuities;
-*d) wages in lieu of notice; and
-*e) vacation pay.
-It is important to note some income, while generally considered earnings, will not prevent an interruption of earnings.  For example, the fact that a worker receives severance, pay in lieu of notice, or vacation pay after getting laid off will not delay the interruption of earnings. The claimant should still apply for EI as soon as possible after they stop working to make sure their application is not late, even if the money they get from the employer due to the layoff may delay the start of their actual EI benefits.
+Income that counts as “earnings” includes, but is not limited to:
-Income regarded as earnings is “allocated” pursuant to s 36 of the EI Regulations.  This is usually done at the claimant’s regular weekly rate of pay.  Such allocation may delay the start of benefits by the number of weeks the earnings can be allocated to.  For example, if a person normally earns $500 per week, and receives $1000 severance pay, their claim will be delayed for an additional 2 weeks after they stop work.  This is because it will notionally take two weeks to “use up” the $1000, as the claimant usually makes this amount in two weeks.
-Though the claimant will need to wait until the money is used up before being eligible to receive benefits, he or she '''must still apply for EI immediately'''.  The benefit period will be extended to make up for the weeks it takes to use up these earnings.
+:a) wages, salary, or commission;
+:b) retirement pension;
+:c) bonuses and gratuities;
+:d) severance pay;
+:e) vacation pay;
+:f) workers’ compensation payments;
+:g) group wage-loss insurance.
-== D. Income That Is Not Treated As Earnings ==
+It is important to note that some income, while generally considered as earnings, will not prevent an interruption of earnings. For example, receiving severance pay or vacation pay following a layoff will not delay the occurrence of an interruption of earnings. The claimant should still apply for EI as soon as possible after they stop working.
-Section 35(7) exempts certain sources of income from being regarded as earnings.
+Although the claimant will need to wait until the received funds are exhausted before being eligible to receive benefits, '''they must still apply for EI immediately'''. In such cases, the benefit period will be extended to make up for the weeks it takes to use up these earnings.
-Recent cases suggest that in certain circumstances some  earnings '''may not delay''' the start of an EI claim. In ''Attorney General of Canada v Doreen Myers'', 2006 FCA57 the court found that the  claimant’s vacation pay did not delay the start of a claim because it was not a payment made by reason of a separation, thus allowing benefits to be received earlier, and possibly at a higher rate.
+== C. Income That Is Not Treated as Earnings ==
-Income that '''does not''' count as earnings and will not delay the start of the claim includes:
+Section 35(7) of the ''EI Regulations'' exempts certain sources of income from being regarded as earnings. These include:
-*a) disability pensions; and
-*b) permanent settlement Workers’ Compensation payments.
-:'''NOTE:''' A retirement pension will not delay the start of a claim. However, it does constitute earnings, and will reduce the benefits payable until the pensioner has worked long enough to re-qualify for EI '''after''' the pension commences. From that point on, it is not regarded as income.
+* disability pension or a lump sum or pension paid in full and final settlement of a claim made for workers’ compensation payments;
+* payments under a sickness or disability wage-loss indemnity plan that is not a group plan;
+* relief grants in cash or in kind;
+* retroactive increases in wages or salary;
-== E. The Waiting Period ==
+For more details, see section 35(7) of the ''EI Regulations''.
-Before receiving any EI benefits, a claimant must serve a one week “waiting period” during which he or she is unemployed and otherwise eligible for benefits (Section 13).
+In certain circumstances some earnings may not delay the start of an EI claim. In ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/fca/doc/2005/2005fca363/2005fca363.html Attorney General of Canada v Bielich]'', 2005 FCA 363, the court allowed a $24,000 payment to be exempted from the claimant’s allocation of earnings because the purpose of the payment was to compensate the claimant for giving up his right to seek reinstatement, not to compensate for lost pay.
-This waiting period also applies to pregnancy, parental, and sickness claims.  If a claimant works during the waiting period, 100 percent of his or her earnings will be deducted from the first three (and no more than three) weekly benefit cheques.
+:'''Note''': Retirement pensions are generally considered income and are deducted from EI benefits. However, if the claimant accumulates all the hours needed to qualify for EI after the date their pension starts, then their pension money will not be deducted from their EI benefits (see ''EI Regulations'', s. 35(7)(e)).
-== F. Length of Benefit Period ==
+== D. The Waiting Period ==
-The benefit period for regular EI benefits is 52 weeks. However, this period can sometimes be extended to more than 52 weeks,  The criteria for this are set out in s 10(10) of the EI Act.  The benefit period can be extended when a claimant proves that for any week during that benefit period the claimant was not entitled to benefit by reason of:
+Before receiving any EI benefits, a claimant must serve a one week “waiting period” during which they are unemployed and otherwise eligible for benefits (''EI Act'', s. 13).
-*a) receiving earnings paid by reason of the complete severance of the relationship between the claimant and the claimant’s former employer (i.e. “using up” severance pay, vacation pay, etc.);
-*b) receiving Workers’ Compensation payments for a total disability; or
-*c) receiving payments under a provincial law on the basis of having ceased to work because continuing to work would have entailed danger to the claimant, the claimant’s unborn child, or a child the claimant is breast-feeding.
-The benefit period can be further extended under s  10(11) where a claimant can prove that for any week during the extension period, he or she was not entitled to benefit, again for any reason stated ins 10(10).
+This waiting period also applies to maternity, parental, caregiver, and sickness claims. For caregiver benefits, it can be deferred for the second family member if benefits are split, but the first person must serve it. If a claimant works during the waiting period, 100 percent of their earnings will be deducted from the first three (and no more than three) weekly benefit cheques.
-The length of any benefit period extended for these reasons cannot exceed 104 weeks (''EI Act'', s 10(14)).
+== E. Length of Benefit Period ==
-== G. Additional Employment Insurance Regular Benefits for Unemployed Workers in Affected Regions ==
+The benefit period for regular EI benefits is 52 weeks (''EI Act'', s. 10(2)). However, this period can sometimes be extended to more than 52 weeks. The criteria for this is set out in s. 10(10) of the ''EI Act''. The benefit period can be extended when a claimant proves that, for any week during that benefit period, the claimant was not entitled to benefit by reason of:
-In the 2016 federal budget, the Government extended EI regular benefits to unemployed workers in regions that were most affected by the sharp decline in global commodity prices. Claimants that are eligible for regular benefits in the 15 regions identified will have their EI regular benefits extended by 5-weeks to a maximum of 50-weeks. Additionally, long-tenured workers in the 15 regions could have their regular benefits extended by another 20-weeks, up to a 70-maximum.
+* being confined in a jail, penitentiary, or other similar institution and they were not found guilty of the offence for which they were being held or any other offence arising out of the same transaction;
+* receiving earnings paid because of the complete severance of their relationship with their former employer (i.e., “using up” severance pay, vacation pay, etc.);
+* receiving workers’ compensation payments for an illness or injury; or
+* receiving payments under a provincial law on the basis of having ceased to work because continuing to work would have entailed danger to the claimant, their unborn child, or a child they are breast-feeding. '''BC residents are not entitled to these payments, this does not apply'''.
-The 15 regions that the Government has extended EI regular benefits include: Edmonton, Southern Saskatchewan, Southern interior British Columbia, Northern Alberta, Nunavut, Whitehorse, Newfoundland/Labrador, Sudbury, Northern Manitoba, Northern Saskatchewan, Calgary, Southern Alberta Northern British Columbia, Northern Ontario, and Saskatoon (EI Act, s 12(2.8)).
+== F. Payment of Regular Benefits ==
-Refer to Canada’s EI Economic Region map to determine whether the claimant was living in one of the economic regions: http://srv129.services.gc.ca/eiregions/eng/canada.aspx
+An EI claimant can be paid regular benefits from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on the [https://srv129.services.gc.ca/eiregions/eng/postalcode_search.aspx unemployment rate in their region] at the time they file their claim, and the amount of insurable hours they have accumulated in their qualifying period.
-Claim for benefits prior to January 4, 2015 are not eligible for this extension of employment insurance.
+== G. Termination of Benefit Period ==
-== H. Termination of Benefit Period ==
+Once a benefit period is established, it continues to run, regardless of whether the claimant has resumed employment (although full benefits will not be paid in this case), unless the benefit period is terminated.
-While a benefit period is normally 52 weeks long, the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be payable will vary in each case  depending upon the individual claimant’s entitlement (see [[Types of Employment Insurance Benefits (8:VI) | Section VI: Types of Benefits]]). Once a benefit period is established, it continues to run notwithstanding that the claimant may have returned to work (though full benefits will not actually be paid in this case), unless the benefit period is terminated.
+Section 10(8) of the ''EI Act'' states that a benefit period terminates when:
-Section 10(8) states that a benefit period terminates when:
+:a) no further benefits are payable to the claimant in their benefit period; or
-#no further benefits are payable to the claimant in his or her benefit period;
+:b) the claimant
-#the benefit period would otherwise end under this section; and
+:* requests that their benefit period end,
-#the claimant:
+:* makes a new initial claim for benefits, and
-#*a) asks that the benefit period end;
+:* qualifies as an insured person to receive benefits, or qualifies as a self-employed person to receive benefits, under the ''Act''.
-#*b) makes a new initial claim for benefit; and
-#*c) qualifies to receive benefit under this part of the ''EI Act''.
-:'''NOTE:''' The way benefit rates are calculated under the ''EI Act'' can make the timing of the decision to end one claim and start a new one  crucial. Therefore, it may be better for a claimant to terminate an existing benefit period prior to its expiration and establish a new one, in order to use working periods during the benefit period that may improve his or her benefit rate orattachment.
+:'''Note''': The calculation of benefit rates under the ''EI Act'' makes the timing of the decision to conclude one claim and initiate a new one crucial.
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