Employment Insurance (Regular)
Canada-wide
What it is
Temporary income support for eligible workers who lose their job through no fault of their own.
Check this if
Worth checking after job loss if you have enough insurable hours.
Canadian benefits timeline: ages, deadlines and life stages
See when payment dates, application windows and programs become worth checking as ages and life situations change. For learning only — not a personal eligibility decision.
Program summaries and timing markers come from official government sources and may change. Confirm details on the linked pages before you act.
Optionally choose a province or territory to show local programs alongside Canada-wide ones. Nothing is selected by default. Federal programs always stay visible.
Now showing all of Canada.
Job loss
Employment Insurance, other federal programs, provincial last-resort assistance, retraining, and community navigation people often look into after losing work or stopping work for health or family reasons.
Start here
Up to three high-value first steps in this section.
211 community and social services
Canada-wideLower-income householdsWhat it is
A free helpline and website that connects you to local food banks, housing help, crisis supports, and other community services.
Check this if
Worth checking when you need local help with essentials while between jobs or on a tight budget.
Provincial or territorial social assistance
Canada-wideWhat it is
Last-resort income and basic-needs programs when employment income and EI are not enough or you are not eligible.
Check this if
Worth checking when EI ends or you do not qualify, and household income is very low.
Official sourceFilter by province above to see what you may be eligible for in your province or territory.
Important timing
When applying for EI regular benefits. You generally need between 420 and 700 insurable hours in your qualifying period, depending on regional unemployment. See the official table for your area.
Employment Insurance and related leaves
EI Sickness Benefits
Canada-wideEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Employment Insurance benefits for workers unable to work because of illness, injury, or quarantine.
Check this if
Worth checking when illness stops you from working temporarily.
EI Maternity Benefits
Canada-wideFamilies with children under 18Employed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Employment Insurance benefits for eligible birth parents before and after childbirth or adoption.
Check this if
Worth checking before or during pregnancy if you have enough insurable hours.
EI Parental Benefits
Canada-wideFamilies with children under 18Employed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Employment Insurance benefits for parents caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
Check this if
Worth checking when caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
EI Compassionate Care Benefit
Canada-wideFamily caregiversEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Employment Insurance benefits for people who temporarily leave work to care for someone who is critically ill or dying.
Check this if
Worth checking when you leave work to care for someone who is critically ill or dying.
EI special benefits for self-employed people
Canada-wideEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Optional Employment Insurance coverage for self-employed people who opt in and pay premiums, covering maternity, parental, sickness, and compassionate care.
Check this if
Worth checking if you are self-employed and opted into EI special benefits before stopping work.
Income support and essentials
Canada Workers Benefit
Canada-wideLower-income householdsEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
A refundable tax credit for low-income workers that supplements employment earnings.
Check this if
Worth checking when you work but have low household income.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)
Canada-wideLower-income householdsWhat it is
A quarterly tax-free payment that helps offset GST or HST paid by lower-income individuals and families. Since July 2026 this is the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB).
Check this if
Worth checking when you file taxes; the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) is often automatic with your return.
Training and return to work
Canada Student Grant (full-time)
Canada-widePost-secondary studentsLower-income householdsWhat it is
Non-repayable federal grants for eligible full-time and part-time post-secondary students with financial need.
Check this if
Worth checking when applying for post-secondary aid through your province or territory.
Canada Student Loans (federal portion)
Canada-widePost-secondary studentsWhat it is
Government-backed student loans with repayment assistance when income after graduation is low.
Check this if
Worth checking for loans with your student aid application and for repayment help after school.
Canada Training Credit (CTC)
Canada-wideEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Refundable federal credit that can offset eligible tuition and training fees, using a limit that grows when you file Canadian tax returns.
Check this if
Worth checking if you are paying for courses or skills training after a job loss and file a Canadian tax return.
Provincial or territorial training and employment programs
Canada-wideEmployed or EI-eligibleWhat it is
Skills upgrading, job-search help, and training supports run by provinces and territories for people who are unemployed or between jobs.
Check this if
Worth checking after job loss if you want to retrain, upgrade skills, or get help finding work.
Official sourceFilter by province above to see what you may be eligible for in your province or territory.
Workplace injury
Workers' compensation (workplace injury)
Canada-wideWhat it is
Provincial and territorial workers' compensation boards replace lost wages and cover treatment when you are injured at work.
Check this if
Worth checking when a workplace injury or occupational disease stops you from working.
More to consider
Housing and essentials navigator
Canada-wideLower-income householdsWhat it is
MyEligible's municipal-first guide to emergency shelter, rent help, 211 navigation, and provincial or federal programs in your area.
Check this if
Worth checking when housing is unstable, rent is hard to cover, or you need local shelter and essentials navigation.
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Timeline transition dates and program summaries last reviewed 2026-08-26 against linked official sources. Amounts and rules change — confirm on official sites.
This page shows when programs become relevant to learn about, not whether you qualify or how much you would receive. Use the quiz or linked guides for specifics.