Employment Insurance (EI) Fishing benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) on-line services
Do you have a question about the EI program? The frequently asked questions might help!
Who is eligible?
Qualifying period
Maybe your old EI claim just needs to be reactivated
Where, how and when to apply?
What information/documents are needed to apply?
When will you receive your first payment?
A 2-week waiting period to serve
In order to get paid...
Your Access Code
How long can you receive benefits?
How much will you receive?
How your benefits are calculated
Working while on EI
Various types of earnings
Maternity benefits
Parental benefits
Sickness benefits
Compassionate care benefits
Combining maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits with fishing benefits
Fishing benefits while temporarily absent from Canada
Repayment of benefits at income tax time
Your rights and responsibilities
Appealing a decision
Looking for work
Who is eligible?
A fisher is a self-employed person engaged in fishing. The following outlines how the fishing benefits may apply to you. If you are not self-employed in fishing, but you still work in the fishing industry for someone else, regular benefits, maternity, parental and sickness or compassionate care benefits may be the solution.
To qualify for fishing benefits, fishers need sufficient earnings from self-employment in fishing in a maximum 31 week period before their claim starts —this period is called the qualifying period.
You will need to earn at least between $2,500 and $4,200 to qualify for fishing benefits. This amount varies based on the unemployment rate in your region.
If you have been paid EI benefits in the past and you received a written notice, for example, a warning letter or a penalty letter, for making a false statement, the amount of fishing earnings required to claim fishing benefits will be higher. To know more...
top
| Regional Unemployment rate | Required insurable earnings |
|---|---|
|
13,1 % or over |
2 500 $ |
|
12,1 % to 13 % |
2 700 $ |
|
11,1 % to 12 % |
2 900 $ |
|
10,1 % to 11 % |
3 200 $ |
|
9,1 % to 10 % |
3 400 $ |
|
8,1 % to 9 % |
3 600 $ |
|
7,1 % to 8 % |
3 800 $ |
|
6, 1 % to 7 % |
4 000 $ |
|
6 % and under |
4 200 $ |
If during the 52-week period that precedes the beginning of the qualifying period, you have $3,000 or more of fishing earnings or 490 hours or more of:
- self-employment in fishing,
- fishing benefits,
- training relating to fishing which has been authorized by an Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) officer,
- workers compensation,
- employment measures related to fishing or
- a combination of the above,
you will need to earn between $2,500 and $4,200 to qualify for benefits.
However, if you have just started working as a self-employed fisher, or have returned to fishing after an absence of a year or more preceding your qualifying period, you may need to earn a minimum of $5,500 of fishing earnings to qualify.
Also, if you have received one week or more of maternity or parental benefits in the 208 weeks preceding the 52-week period prior the qualifying period you will need to earn between $2,500 and $4,200 to qualify for benefits.
Earnings are calculated in accordance with the sharing arrangement of the crew, and reported in block 6C on the Record of Employment (ROE) by the buyer or agent.
topQualifying period
The qualifying period during which earnings may be accumulated will vary according to the fishing seasons. It can start:
- during the week of March 1st or
- during the week of September 1st
The maximum length of the qualifying period is 31 weeks counting back from the week prior to the beginning of your claim.
topMaybe your old EI claim just needs to be reactivated
If you filed a claim for benefits within the last 52 weeks, you may be able to reactivate this claim. To reactivate your claim, please submit an application on-line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere you have Internet access, or during business hours at your Service Canada Centre. To know more...
Where, how and when to apply?
To receive fishing benefits you must submit an EI application on-line or in person at your Service Canada Centre, even if you receive or will receive money when you become unemployed.
You must request your Record of Employment (ROE) from your last employer. If you have your ROE from your last employer, apply immediately. If you did not receive your last ROE within 14 days of your last day of work, submit your application as soon as the 14 days are over, along with proof of employment, for example, pay stubs. If one or more ROE covering periods prior to your last employment are missing, you must still submit your claim for benefits.
If getting your ROE is a problem, your Service Canada Centre can help you. You will have to fill out a form "Request for Record of Employment" explaining what efforts you have made to obtain it. You will have to provide proof of your employment, such as: pay stubs, cancelled pay cheques, T4 slip, work schedules. If possible, we will use the proof to calculate your claim.
Delaying in filing your claim for benefits beyond 4 weeks after your last day of work, your trip end date, or the date of purchase may cause loss of benefits.
What information/documents are needed to apply?
-
your Social Insurance Number (SIN). If your SIN begins with a 9, you need to supply proof of your immigration status and work permit.
-
a Record of Employment (ROE) from each job held over the last 52 weeks. If you do not have your ROE after 14 days from your last day of work, you must submit proof of employment such as pay stubs;
-
personal identification such as your driver's licence, birth certificate or passport, if you are applying in person;
-
your complete bank account information, as shown on your cheque or bank statement or a voided personalized blank cheque from your current account. This will ensure that your payment of benefits will be made directly to your bank account with Direct Deposit;
-
a detailed version of events, if you quit or have been dismissed from a non-fishing job;
-
a medical certificate indicating how long your incapacity is expected to last, if you are claiming sickness benefits.
When will you receive your first payment?
If we have all the required information and if you qualify for benefits, your payment will usually be issued within 28 days from the date of filing your claim. If you do not qualify, we will notify you of the decision made on your claim.
A 2-week waiting period to serve
When you claim fishing benefits you need to serve a 2-week waiting period...
In order to get paid...
To find out how to get paid...
Your Access Code
You will receive an Access Code...
How long can you receive benefits?
If you qualify for fishing benefits you may receive 26 weeks of benefits within a period of 37-38 weeks. However, the number of weeks of benefits is different for sickness, maternity, and parental or for a combination of all of them.
The benefit period for regular fishing benefits can start:
-
as early as the week of October 1st and must end no later than the week of June 15th or
-
as early as the week of April 1st and must end no later than the week of December 15th.
How much will you receive?
To find out how much will you receive...
How your benefits are calculated
We consider your total earnings accumulated during a maximum of 31 weeks before your claim starts. That period called qualifying period can start, according to the fishing seasons, during the week of March 1st or September 1st.
Your weekly benefit will be calculated in the following manner :
- We consider the total self-employed fishing earnings you have been paid in the last 31 weeks;
- We consider the unemployment rate in your region and the divisor which applies at that unemployment rate — see Divisor table;
- We divide your total self-employed fishing earnings in the last 31 weeks by the applicable divisor number;
- If you occupied an employment other than as self-employed fisher, we calculate the regular weekly earnings from the last 26 weeks of that other employment, using only the weeks contained in the fishing qualifying period of 31 weeks. We divide the total by the applicable divisor number;
- We add the fishing and non-fishing earnings up to a $750 weekly maximum;
-
We multiply this result by 55% to obtain the amount of your weekly benefits. See examples 1 and 2...
| Unemployment rate in your region | Minimum divisor |
|---|---|
|
6 % and under |
22 |
|
over 6 % to 7 % |
21 |
|
over 7 % to 8 % |
20 |
|
over 8 % to 9 % |
19 |
|
over 9 % to 10 % |
18 |
|
over 10 % to 11 % |
17 |
|
over 11 % to 12 % |
16 |
|
over 12 % to 13 % |
15 |
|
over 13 % |
14 |
| Example 2
In 2004, John earned $9,865 during the 31 weeks in his qualifying period. The unemployment rate in his area is 11.5%, which means the divisor is 16. His fishing earnings of $9,865 divided by 16 gives him weekly insurable earnings of $616,56. He also worked in a job other than self-employed fisher and earned $10 000 in 15 weeks during the last 26 weeks, which are contained in the qualifying period of 31 weeks. The unemployment rate in his area is 11.5%, which means the divisor is 16. The other earnings, $10 000, divided by 16 gives him weekly insurable earnings of $625.00. The divisor of 16 is used for the regular earnings as it is greater than the 15 regular weeks with insured earnings in the last 26 weeks. Fishing weekly earnings: $616.56 When the regular earnings are added to the fishing earnings, they are greater than $750 per week. Therefore, reduce to the maximum insurable to $750. His benefit rate is $750 x 55% = $413. |
Working while on EI
You can't work full time and receive EI benefits. However, you can work part-time while you are receiving fishing benefits. You can earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Any monies earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.
However, effective December 11, 2005, if you are living in one of the 23 participating economic regions, the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits is the greater of $75 or 40 % of weekly benefits. To know more...
You must report any earnings you make while collecting fishing benefits.
Tip: Use the reporting calendar — PDF 11 kb — to keep track of your earnings and hours worked. About PDF Files.
Various types of earnings
Earnings paid or payable by your employer at the end of your employment or while you are receiving benefits, generally affect payment of your benefits. To know more...
Maternity benefits
The birth mother or surrogate mother can receive 15 weeks of maternity benefits after having accumulated, as a self-employed person engaged in fishing, earnings of $3,760 or more in her qualifying period. You need to prove your pregnancy by signing a statement declaring the expected due or actual date of birth. To know more on maternity benefits ...
Parental benefits
Parental benefits can be paid for 35 weeks to fishers who accumulated $3,760 or more during the qualifying period. We accept as proof of birth or placement the claimant's declaration attesting to:
-
the date of birth of the child; or
-
the date the child is placed in the claimant's home for the purpose of adoption, and the name and full address of the agency handling the adoption; or
-
the date the child is physically under the claimant's care, for example, in the case of an international adoption.
To know more on parental benefits ...
Sickness benefits
Sickness benefits can be paid to fishers who accumulated earnings of $3,760 or more during the qualifying period. Sickness benefits apply to situations where you are sick, injured or in quarantine. Benefits are paid for up to 15 weeks . You must have a medical certificate telling us how long your illness is expected to last.
Particular situations ...
You may qualify for sickness benefits even with less than $3,760 of earnings as long as you did not stop working because of illness, injury or quarantine. In fact, if you are already receiving regular fishing benefits and you become ill while you are on that claim, you may receive the sickness benefits you are entitled too.
If you are receiving sickness benefits and you ask for maternity and parental benefits, you will want to know more about the maximum number of combined benefits you may be able to receive.
If these situations apply to you, you need to call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write to us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre to have your claim modified.
To know more on sickness benefits...
Compassionate care benefits
Compassionate care benefits can be paid up to a maximum of 6 weeks to fishers who have to be absent from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member at risk of dying within 26 weeks. Unemployed fishers on EI can also ask for this type of benefits.
To be eligible for compassionate care benefits you must apply and have at least $3,760 of insurable earnings or more from fishing in your qualifying period. You must also provide medical proof attesting that a family member has a serious medical condition with a high risk of death withing 26 weeks and requires care and support from one or more family members.
To know more on compassionate care benefits...
Combining maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits with fishing benefits
You may sometimes receive fishing benefits combined with maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, which allows you to receive up to 50 weeks. Certains condition apply. If you are in that situation and want to know more, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write to us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre.
Fishing benefits while temporarily absent from Canada
Under most circumstances you are not allowed to receive fishing benefits for any period in which you are not in Canada. However, in certain situations, you can receive fishing benefits provided that you are available for work in Canada and that you inform your Service Canada Centre of your temporary absence. To find out about these situations...
Your rights and responsibilities
It is very important for you to know about your rights and responsibilities...
Appealing a decision
If you disagree with an EI related decision you have the right to appeal. Information on how to file and prepare for an appeal can be found at Serving Employment Insurance Appellants... 
Looking for work
While claiming fishing benefits you must be actively looking for work...
