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Difference between revisions of "Types of Employment Insurance Benefits (8:IV)"
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Types of Employment Insurance Benefits (8:IV) (view source)
Revision as of 20:56, 20 July 2021
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Sickness benefits are only available for a “prescribed illness, injury or quarantine that renders a claimant incapable of performing the functions of his or her regular or usual employment or other suitable employment” ('''EI Regulations''', s 40(4)). The onus is on the claimant to prove entitlement. A medical certificate is usually required, and the Commission may also require a claimant to undergo a medical examination at their direction pursuant to s 40(2) of the EI Regulations. In those situations, the Commission must pay travel and other expenses for the examination ('''EI Regulation''', s 40(3)). | Sickness benefits are only available for a “prescribed illness, injury or quarantine that renders a claimant incapable of performing the functions of his or her regular or usual employment or other suitable employment” ('''EI Regulations''', s 40(4)). The onus is on the claimant to prove entitlement. A medical certificate is usually required, and the Commission may also require a claimant to undergo a medical examination at their direction pursuant to s 40(2) of the EI Regulations. In those situations, the Commission must pay travel and other expenses for the examination ('''EI Regulation''', s 40(3)). | ||
Due to Covid-19, a medical certificate is not necessary to qualify for sickness benefits. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | |||
:NOTE: For more information on claiming sickness benefits, please refer to the ESDC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/ei/ei-list/reports/sickness.html. | :NOTE: For more information on claiming sickness benefits, please refer to the ESDC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/ei/ei-list/reports/sickness.html. | ||
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*his or her regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40 percent; and | *his or her regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40 percent; and | ||
*he or she has accumulated 600 insured hours in her qualifying period. | *he or she has accumulated 600 insured hours in her qualifying period. | ||
Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | |||
The EI Act’s expanded definition of “family member” includes a claimant’s: | The EI Act’s expanded definition of “family member” includes a claimant’s: | ||
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There is still a one-week waiting period before benefits can be claimed. However, if the benefit is to be shared with other family members, only the first family member to claim compassionate care benefit has to serve the one-week waiting period. | There is still a one-week waiting period before benefits can be claimed. However, if the benefit is to be shared with other family members, only the first family member to claim compassionate care benefit has to serve the one-week waiting period. | ||
Due to Covid-19, the waiting period may be waived. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | |||
:NOTE: For more information on claiming compassionate care benefits, and for a comprehensive list of persons included under the term “family member,” please refer to the ESDC website: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml#Definition. | :NOTE: For more information on claiming compassionate care benefits, and for a comprehensive list of persons included under the term “family member,” please refer to the ESDC website: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml#Definition. | ||
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== E. Benefits for Parents of Critically Ill Children (PCIC) == | == E. Benefits for Parents of Critically Ill Children (PCIC) == | ||
Eligible family members who take leave from work to provide care or support to a child with a life-threatening illness or injury can receive up to 35 weeks of benefits. The benefits must be collected in the 52-week window beginning on the day a medical certificate is issued showing that the child is critically ill or, if the claim is made before the certificate is issued, from the date a specialist medical doctor certifies that the child is critically ill or injured. The child must be under the age of 18 at the time that the beginning of the benefit window; if the child turns 18 at any time during the benefit window besides the beginning, the claimant will remain eligible to claim PCIC benefits. | Eligible family members who take leave from work to provide care or support to a child with a life-threatening illness or injury can receive up to 35 weeks of benefits. The benefits must be collected in the 52-week window beginning on the day a medical certificate is issued showing that the child is critically ill or, if the claim is made before the certificate is issued, from the date a specialist medical doctor certifies that the child is critically ill or injured. The child must be under the age of 18 at the time that the beginning of the benefit window; if the child turns 18 at any time during the benefit window besides the beginning, the claimant will remain eligible to claim PCIC benefits. Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes). | ||
As with other special benefits, the claimant must have an interruption of earnings (for special benefits, a 40% reduction in earnings) and have 600 hours in their qualifying period. | As with other special benefits, the claimant must have an interruption of earnings (for special benefits, a 40% reduction in earnings) and have 600 hours in their qualifying period. | ||
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Eligible family members who take leave from work to provide care or support to a family member with a life-threatening illness or injury can receive up to 15 weeks of benefits. The benefits must be collected in the 52-week window beginning on the day a medical certificate is issued showing that the adult is critically ill or, if the claim is made before the certificate is issued, from the date a specialist medical doctor certifies that the adult is critically ill or injured. The adult must be over the age of 18 at the time that the beginning of the benefit window. | Eligible family members who take leave from work to provide care or support to a family member with a life-threatening illness or injury can receive up to 15 weeks of benefits. The benefits must be collected in the 52-week window beginning on the day a medical certificate is issued showing that the adult is critically ill or, if the claim is made before the certificate is issued, from the date a specialist medical doctor certifies that the adult is critically ill or injured. The adult must be over the age of 18 at the time that the beginning of the benefit window. | ||
As with other special benefits, the claimant must have an interruption of earnings (for special benefits, a 40% reduction in earnings) and have 600 hours in their qualifying period. | As with other special benefits, the claimant must have an interruption of earnings (for special benefits, a 40% reduction in earnings) and have 600 hours in their qualifying period. Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | ||
These benefits are not available to family members of an adult with a chronic illness or condition that is their normal state of health. There must be a significant change from the adult’s normal or baseline state of health at the time they are assessed by a specialist medical doctor. | These benefits are not available to family members of an adult with a chronic illness or condition that is their normal state of health. There must be a significant change from the adult’s normal or baseline state of health at the time they are assessed by a specialist medical doctor. | ||
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The maximum period in which benefits may be collected ends 17 weeks after birth or due date, whichever is later. If the child born from the pregnancy is hospitalized, the benefit period may be extended by one week for each week or part of a week that the child is hospitalized (''EI Act'', s 22(6)). However, benefits may last no longer than 15 weeks total, even if extensions have been granted. As with claims for regular benefits, there is a one-week waiting period after the claim is made before benefits become payable. | The maximum period in which benefits may be collected ends 17 weeks after birth or due date, whichever is later. If the child born from the pregnancy is hospitalized, the benefit period may be extended by one week for each week or part of a week that the child is hospitalized (''EI Act'', s 22(6)). However, benefits may last no longer than 15 weeks total, even if extensions have been granted. As with claims for regular benefits, there is a one-week waiting period after the claim is made before benefits become payable. | ||
Due to Covid-19, the waiting period may be waived.. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | |||
=== 3. Pregnancy Benefit Rate === | === 3. Pregnancy Benefit Rate === | ||
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Should parents elect to receive benefits for up to 69 weeks, parents can share the total benefit between the them as they choose. However, no parent may receive more than 61 weeks of benefits individually. | Should parents elect to receive benefits for up to 69 weeks, parents can share the total benefit between the them as they choose. However, no parent may receive more than 61 weeks of benefits individually. | ||
In either case, only parents who are major attachment claimants (i.e. have at least 600 insurable hours in their qualifying period) can qualify. In other words, each parent must qualify individually, and one parent cannot qualify on behalf of the other. For example, if one parent claims 35 weeks of benefits, then the other parent may claim a maximum of 5 weeks. | In either case, only parents who are major attachment claimants (i.e. have at least 600 insurable hours in their qualifying period) can qualify. In other words, each parent must qualify individually, and one parent cannot qualify on behalf of the other. For example, if one parent claims 35 weeks of benefits, then the other parent may claim a maximum of 5 weeks. Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | ||
The period during which parental benefits can be claimed begins on the day the child is born, or placed with the parent for the purposes of adoptions, and ends 52 weeks later. The 40 weeks of parental benefit do not need to be collected in consecutive weeks and can be collected at any time during this period. Like other EI benefits, the claimant will receive 55% of their average weekly earnings. | The period during which parental benefits can be claimed begins on the day the child is born, or placed with the parent for the purposes of adoptions, and ends 52 weeks later. The 40 weeks of parental benefit do not need to be collected in consecutive weeks and can be collected at any time during this period. Like other EI benefits, the claimant will receive 55% of their average weekly earnings. | ||
Due to Covid-19 claimants will receive at least $300 per week before taxes for extended parental benefits but could receive more. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes.) | |||
== I. Provisions for Low Income Families == | == I. Provisions for Low Income Families == | ||
