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Employment Insurance Temporary Benefit Enhancements

Published on October 19, 2020 PDF(opens a new window)

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) eligibility period expired on September 26, 2020. To support those who remain unable to work, the Government has made several modifications to Employment Insurance (EI) regular, maternity and parental programs:

  1. Reduce, to 120 hours through a credit, the minimum number of hours of insurable employment required for a regular, maternity and parental claim;
  2. Set a minimum EI regular, maternity and parental benefit rate of $500 per week ($300 for extended parental benefits);
  3. Provide a minimum entitlement of 26 weeks for regular EI beneficiaries.

The weekly benefit rate is calculated based on the 14 best weeks of earnings.

In general, these changes are effective on September 27, 2020 for one year. There are a few exceptions: the hours credit is retroactive to March 15, 2020 and the 26 week minimum entitlement is effective on August 9, 2020.

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