Employment Insurance Benefits for Self-Employed People

The Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for self-employed people program is designed for those who run their own business or control more than 40% of their corporation’s voting shares. The program helps self-employed people take time away from their business to care for themselves, their children or other family members. If you’re eligible, you can receive financial support of up to 55% of your earnings with a capped maximum amount.

Quick tip: If you’re a fisher, barber or hairdresser, or if you drive a taxi or other passenger vehicle, you don’t need to register for the self-employed program—apply for EI regular benefits as an employee.?

Six types of special benefits?

There are six types of special benefits for self-employed people:?

1. Maternity (EI maternity and parental benefits)?
2. Parental (EI maternity and parental benefits)?
3. Sickness (EI sickness benefits)?
4. Family caregiver benefit for children (EI caregiving benefits)?
5. Family caregiver benefit for adults (EI caregiving benefits)?
6. Compassionate care (EI caregiving benefits)?

Eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for these benefits, you must:?

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident?

• be registered in the self-employed program for at least 12 months?

• have decreased the amount of time you spend on your business by more than 40% for at least one week?

• have earned a minimum amount of net self-employed earnings between January 1 and December 31 of the year before you apply for benefits?

Quick tip: To be eligible for benefits between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, you need to have made at least $8,492 in net self-employed earnings in 2023.??

Registering for the self-employed program?

To register, you must:?

• Register or sign in to My Service Canada Account?

• Register for the self-employed program??

• Submit reporting documents to the Canada Revenue Agency?

You can apply for special benefits 12 months after your registration date. You must meet the conditions of the benefit for which you are applying.?

Quick tip: You can confirm your registration date in My Service Canada Account.??

To learn more about EI benefits for self-employed people, the maximum number of weeks available, and weekly maximum benefit amounts, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-self-employed-workers.html