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Employment Insurance Special Benefits for the Self-Employed (Budget 2009 and Budget 2010)

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, on November 3, 2009, the federal government tabled the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, legislation to provide EI maternity, parental/adoption, sickness and compassionate care benefits to self-employed Canadians on a voluntary basis. This legislation, which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2009, allowed the self-employed to opt into the EI program in January 2010, and benefits will start being paid in January 2011. This measure responds to the government’s 2008 pledge to provide access to EI for maternity and parental benefits to the self-employed.

Residents of Quebec continue to receive maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan and are eligible to opt into the EI program for sickness and compassionate care benefits.

About the Program

EI is a national program which provides eligible Canadians with access to four types of special benefits to support workers when they experience an interruption in earnings due to illness, childbirth, parenting, or the provision of care or support to a gravely ill family member.

How It Works

The EI program is currently designed for workers in an employer-employee relationship and funded through employer and employee premiums. Under the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, self-employed Canadians who wish to take advantage of EI special benefits are required to opt into the EI program at least one year prior to claiming benefits, and are responsible for making premium payments for the tax year in which they apply to the program. Special benefits provided to self-employed individuals mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program.

How to Find Out More

For information on EI special benefits for the self-employed, including information about registration, contact Service Canada toll-free at 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232; teletypewriter 1‑800‑926-9105), consult the Service Canada website or visit a local Service Canada Centre.

Initiative Update

Self-employed Canadians have been able to voluntarily opt into the EI program since January 31, 2010, and, as a transitional period, those who registered on or before April 1, 2010, are able to collect benefits as early as January 1, 2011. From January 31, 2010 to December 20, 2010, approximately 5,760 self-employed persons opted into the Employment Insurance program under this provision.