The Extended Employment Insurance (EI) Pilot Project

What is the extended EI benefits pilot project
Who is affected
The purpose of the pilot project
Duration
The regions included in the pilot project
How to take advantage of the pilot project
How long can regular benefits be paid during the pilot project

What is the extended EI benefits pilot project

The Extended EI Benefits pilot project increases EI income support by providing access to 5 additional weeks of benefits to EI claimants, up to a maximum of 45 weeks of benefits.

It replaces a previous pilot project which also provided 5 additional weeks of benefits to EI claimants.

Who is affected

The pilot project applies to you if your claim for regular benefits starts between June 11, 2006 and December 9, 2007 and you live in one of the 21 participating EI economic regions.

The purpose of the pilot project

The pilot will test whether providing additional weeks would:

help address the annual income gap faced by seasonal workers whose weeks of work and EI benefits are not sufficient to provide income throughout the year, and;
have any adverse labour market effects on other EI claimants.

The Extended EI Benefits pilot project will provide up to 5 additional weeks of EI benefits in 21 EI economic regions.

Duration

The Extended EI Benefits pilot will run for 18 months, from June 11, 2006 to December 9, 2007. New claims starting after December 9, 2007 will not be eligible for the additional weeks of benefits.

The regions included in the pilot project

The 21 EI economic regions included in the Extended EI Benefits pilot project are the following. Select the region where you live to see if your municipality is included.

**Participating Economic Regions**
Regions	Regions	Regions
Central Quebec	Northern British Columbia	Prince Edward Island
Chicoutimi—Jonquière	Northern Manitoba	Restigouche—Albert
Eastern Nova Scotia	Northern Ontario	St. John’s
Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine	Northern Saskatchewan	Sudbury
Lower Saint Lawrence and North Shore	Northwest Territories	Trois-Rivières
Madawaska—Charlotte	North Western Quebec	Western Nova Scotia
Newfoundland and Labrador	Nunavut	Yukon

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How to take advantage of the pilot project

You can benefit from the pilot project if you meet the following conditions:

you are filing a claim and are eligible to receive regular benefits;
you live in one of the 21 participating EI economic regions; and
your claim for benefits must start between June 11, 2006 and December 9, 2007.

Note: The additional 5 weeks of EI benefits does not apply to fishing benefits nor to maternity, parental, sickness or compassionate care benefits.

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How long can regular benefits be paid during the pilot project?

Regular benefits can be paid from 14 to a maximum of 45 weeks. The number of weeks of benefits which may be paid is determined at the time your claim for benefits starts, based on the unemployment rate in your region and the number of insurable hours you have accumulated in the qualifying period.

Example

You live in Eastern Nova Scotia region with an unemployment rate set at 16.8%. You have accumulated 560 hours of work and your claim starts on July 18, 2006. As you live in a participating EI economic region for the pilot project, you can take advantage of the additional 5 weeks of benefits payable.

Maximum number of weeks of EI benefits payable before the pilot rules: 34 weeks
Maximum number of weeks of EI benefits payable under the pilot rules: 39 weeks

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**Number** **of weeks payable during the pilot project**
Regional unemployment rate
Hours of work	6% and under	Over 6% to 7%	Over 7% to 8%	Over 8% to 9%	Over 9% to 10%	Over 10% to 11%	Over 11% to 12%	Over 12% to 13%	Over 13% to 14%	Over 14% to 15%	Over 15% to 16%	Over 16%
420-454	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	31	33	35	37
455-489	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	31	33	35	37
490-524	0	0	0	0	0	0	28	30	32	34	36	38
525-559	0	0	0	0	0	26	28	30	32	34	36	38
560-594	0	0	0	0	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39
595-629	0	0	0	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39
630-664	0	0	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
665-699	0	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
700-734	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
735-769	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
770-804	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
805-839	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
840-874	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
875-909	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
910-944	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
945-979	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
980-1014	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1015-1049	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1050-1084	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45
1085-1119	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45
1120-1154	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45
1155-1189	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45
1190-1224	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45
1225-1259	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45
1260-1294	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45
1295-1329	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45
1330-1364	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45
1365-1399	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45
1400-1434	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45
1435-1469	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45
1470-1504	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45
1505-1539	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45
1540-1574	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45
1575-1609	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45
1610-1644	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1645-1679	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1680-1714	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1715-1749	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1750-1784	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1785-1819	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1820-	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45	45