Employment Insurance (EI) Pilot Project on the Best 14 weeks

Some workers with uneven or sporadic work patterns, because of the very nature of their work, face situations where the amount of their EI benefits may be lower.

Special measures have been taken to make sure workers living in participating economic regions have a greater access to EI benefits. A 3-year pilot project will change the method of calculating EI weekly benefit rates by using the highest or best 14 weeks of insurable earnings.

Through this pilot project that will run from October 30, 2005 to October 25, 2008 and before making amendments to the legislation, the Government will evaluate the effects on:

Economic regions included in pilot project

The pilot project will be tested in 23 EI economic regions. Select the region where you live to see if your municipality is included.

How we calculate the amount you will receive

During the period of the pilot project, the amount of your weekly EI benefits will be based on your highest 14 weeks of insured earnings in your qualifying period. Therefore, if you accept additional weeks of work beyond the 14 week peak season at a lower salary, your EI benefits will not be lower, because the additional weeks at lower salary will not be taken into consideration in the calculation if your EI benefits — see example 1.

This method of calculating the amount of EI benefits you will receive applies to you if you meet the following conditions:

Example 1 — EI benefit rate under the pilot project and before

On October 28, 2005 you stop working. You file a claim and qualify for regular benefits. Your claim starts on October 30, 2005. You reside in one of the participating EI economic region. In your qualifying period you worked:

14 full-time weeks for a total of $8, 400 and
2 part-time weeks for $480

Since you meet all the conditions, the calculation of your EI benefit rate will be based on your "Best 14 weeks" and will not drop because your part-time weeks will be excluded in the calculation:

Total earnings considered $8, 400 ÷ 14 full-time weeks = $600 x 55% = $330.

$330 is your benefit rate under the pilot project for the duration of your claim.

Before the pilot project, all your insurable earnings would have been considered in the calculation of your EI benefit rate:

Total earnings considered $8, 400 + $480 = $8,880 ÷ 16 weeks = $555 x 55% =$305

$305 would have been your EI benefit rate before the pilot project for the duration of your claim.

Example 2 — Less than 15 weeks of insurable employment

You accumulated 13 weeks of insurable earnings in your qualifying period. You reside in one of the participating region. You file and qualify for regular benefits. Your claim starts on October 30, 2005. In your qualifying period you worked:

11 full-time weeks for a total of $8,000 and
2 part-time weeks for $400

You meet all the conditions, but since you have less than 15 weeks of insurable earnings, all your insurable earnings are used with a flat divisor of 14 to calculate your EI benefit rate:

Total earnings considered $8,000 + $400 = $8, 400 ÷ 14 weeks = $600 x 55% = $330

$330 is your benefit rate for the duration of your claim.

Proof of best 14 weeks

You will be required to provide proof of your best 14 weeks of earnings with the form "Best 14 Questionnaire". Acceptable proof:

Employment Insurance (EI) Pilot Project on the Best 14 weeks

What you should know

Economic regions included in pilot project

How we calculate the amount you will receive

Proof of best 14 weeks