Job loss guide · Canada-wide
Lost your job? Start here.
There are a few things worth doing first. We'll help you check income support, protect your benefits, and find programs available where you live.
Personalize this guide
We'll include programs available in your province.
What happened?
Choose the closest match. We'll highlight information that may matter for your situation. Not sure is fine too.
First few days
Start with these
Practical first steps many people take in the first days after employment ends.
Apply for or check Employment Insurance (EI)
Apply as soon as you stop working. You can apply before your ROE arrives. Service Canada decides eligibility based on your hours, reason for separation, and other rules.
Check your Record of Employment (ROE)
Your ROE shows your insurable hours and why employment ended. Most employers submit ROEs electronically to Service Canada. You do not need to wait for your ROE before applying for EI if you have stopped working.
Keep your termination documents
Save your layoff or termination letter, ROE, final pay statement, employment contract, recent pay stubs, workplace benefit summaries, pension information, and any severance paperwork. These help with EI, WEPP, employment standards questions, and tax filing.
Check what happens to workplace benefits
Ask what ends when employment ends: prescription coverage, dental, short- or long-term disability, health spending accounts, pension contributions, and life insurance. Some plans allow conversion or grace periods.
Look at training and re-employment help
Provinces fund employment services, skills training, and career supports. Scroll to the training section below for programs in your area.
Money
Money you may be able to access
Federal and provincial programs may help replace income or cover essentials.
Immediate income to check
Employment Insurance (Regular)
FederalIncome replacement after job loss if you have enough insurable hours.
Other money that may still apply
Canada Workers Benefit
FederalRefundable credit for low-income workers; up to about half may arrive in automatic advance instalments, with the rest at tax time.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)
FederalQuarterly tax-free payment to offset sales tax for low- and modest-income households. Replaced the GST/HST (goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit) credit in July 2026 with a 25% increase for five years.
Canada Training Credit (CTC)
FederalRefundable federal credit against eligible tuition and fees, funded from a Canada training credit limit that grows when you file returns and meet age/residence rules.
In your province or territory · Ontario
Ontario Works, financial assistance
OntarioIncome- and asset-tested last-resort monthly financial assistance for Ontario residents who need help with basic needs and shelter costs.
Illness or disability
Separate from workplace injury: sickness, chronic illness, or disability may open different benefit pathways.
EI (Employment Insurance) Sickness Benefits
FederalUp to 26 weeks if you cannot work for medical reasons.
CPP (Canada Pension Plan) Disability Benefit
FederalMonthly CPP (Canada Pension Plan) disability pension for contributors under age 65 with severe and prolonged disability.
Canada Disability Benefit
FederalNew federal monthly disability income support for eligible adults ages 18 to 64.
Training and getting back to work
Government-funded employment services, skills training, and career supports in your province or territory.
Ontario
Employment Ontario
OntarioOntario's hub for employment services, training, and apprenticeship supports.
Canada-wide training supports
Canada Training Credit (CTC)
FederalRefundable federal credit against eligible tuition and fees, funded from a Canada training credit limit that grows when you file returns and meet age/residence rules.
If money is getting tight
Rent help, emergency assistance, food supports, and other essentials programs MyEligible tracks in your province.
Ontario Works, financial assistance
OntarioIncome- and asset-tested last-resort monthly financial assistance for Ontario residents who need help with basic needs and shelter costs.
Ontario Trillium Benefit
OntarioCombines sales tax credit, energy & property tax credit, and northern energy credit.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
OntarioIncome- and asset-tested provincial monthly income support and health-related benefits for adults 18 or older who meet Ontario's disability and financial tests, separate from the federal Disability Tax Credit and CPP-D (Canada Pension Plan Disability).
Benefits you may already receive
Job loss may change household income, but many family and tax benefits are based on annual or adjusted family income. Recalculation timing varies. Losing a job does not automatically increase these immediately.
Canada Child Benefit
FederalTax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)
FederalQuarterly tax-free payment to offset sales tax for low- and modest-income households. Replaced the GST/HST (goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit) credit in July 2026 with a 25% increase for five years.
Tax-time supports
File your taxes even with little or no current employment income. Refundable credits may still apply based on the year as a whole.
Canada Workers Benefit
FederalRefundable credit for low-income workers; up to about half may arrive in automatic advance instalments, with the rest at tax time.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)
FederalQuarterly tax-free payment to offset sales tax for low- and modest-income households. Replaced the GST/HST (goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax credit) credit in July 2026 with a 25% increase for five years.
Documents to keep
Record of Employment, termination or layoff letter, final pay and vacation pay statements, employment contract, recent pay stubs, workplace benefit and pension summaries, severance agreements, and any workers' compensation or medical paperwork if injury or illness is involved.
There may be other benefits too
MyEligible tracks federal, provincial, and local programs beyond job-loss supports.
- Guide
Disability guides
Provincial disability income and federal benefit stacking.
Explore - Guide
Cancer support guide
Help with income, treatment costs, medication, travel, and caregiving during cancer treatment.
Read the guide - Caregivers and timeline
Benefits timeline
See job-loss programs on the interactive benefits timeline.
Explore - Guide
Job loss guide
EI, training, and income programs when employment changes; payroll deductions such as CPP are separate from benefit payment rates.
Read the guide - Calculator
Benefit payment dates
Federal deposit schedules for EI, CCB, and other payments you may receive while working or between jobs.
View dates