Compassionate care benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) frequently asked questions
Other FAQ for employers available...
- What are compassionate care benefits?
- What do I need to qualify?
- How long can I receive compassionate care benefits?
- Why is the maximum length of compassionate care benefits limited to 6 weeks?
- Can I share compassionate care benefits with other members of my family?
- Who is considered a family member under compassionate care benefits?
- What does "care or support" mean?
- Do I need to provide a medical certificate when I apply for compassionate care benefits?
- Do I need to serve a 2-week waiting period?
- Do I have to fill out reports during compassionate care benefits?
- Can I work while receiving compassionate care benefits?
- Can I receive compassionate care benefits to care for a family member who has a disability or suffers from a chronic disease or long-term illness?
- Can I receive compassionate care benefits if the gravely ill family member whom I am helping lives outside Canada?
- Do I need to inform Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) if the gravely ill family member dies while I'm receiving compassionate care benefits?
- What are compassionate care benefits?
Helping Canadians find a balance between the workplace and family is a priority for the Government of Canada. To this effect, compassionate care benefits are paid to persons who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks.
top - What do I need to qualify?
To be eligible for compassionate care benefits, you must apply and show that:
- your regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40%; and
- you have accumulated 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks. This period is called the qualifying period.
If you are a fisher, you will have to have accumulated an amount of $3,760 or more during your qualifying period.
top - How long can I receive compassionate care benefits?
You can receive compassionate care benefits up to a maximum of 6 weeks within the 26-week period that starts with the earlier of:
- the week the doctor signs the medical certificate, or
- the week the doctor examine the gravely ill family member at risk of dying, or
- the week the family member became gravely ill and at risk of dying, if the doctor can determine that date, for example, the date of the test results.
The benefits end when:
- 6 weeks compassionate care benefits have been paid, or
- the gravely ill family member dies or no longer requires care or support, benefits are paid to the end of the week, or
- the 26-week period has expired.
- Why is the maximum length of compassionate care benefits limited to 6 weeks?
Several factors were considered, including medical evidence, best practices in the public and private sectors, and the fact that the majority of Canadians who take time off work to care for a gravely ill family member take 6 weeks or less.
The Government will monitor the new benefits to ensure that they remain responsive to the needs of Canadians.
top - Can I share compassionate care benefits with other members of my family?
Yes. You can share the 6 weeks of compassionate care benefits with other members of your family who must also apply and qualify for these benefits.
top - Who is considered a family member under compassionate care benefits?
You will be able to receive compassionate care benefits to provide care or support for one of the following family member:
- your child or the child of your spouse or common-law partner;
- your wife/husband or common-law partner;
- your father/mother; or
- your father’s wife/mother’s husband;
- the common-law partner of your father/mother.
Common-law partner means a person who has been living in a conjugal relationship with that person for at least a year.
Starting June 11th, 2006, you can care for a broader range of gravely ill family members.
top - What does "care or support" mean?
Care or support to a family member means:
- Providing psychological or emotional support, or
- Arranging for care by a third party, or
- Directly providing or participating in the care.
- Do I need to provide a medical certificate when I apply for compassionate care benefits?
Yes. You must provide a medical certificate as proof that the gravely ill family member needs care or support and is at significant risk of death within 26 weeks. Only one medical certificate is required whether one person claims the total of 6 weeks of benefits or whether they are shared.
The medical certificate, called "Medical certificate for Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits" must be completed and signed by a medical doctor or other medical practitioner authorized to treat the gravely ill family member.
Please note that the fees requested by the doctor are entirely at your own expense.
top - Do I need to serve a 2-week waiting period?
A 2-week waiting period needs to be served before you can receive compassionate care benefits. When these benefits are shared with other members of your family, only one waiting period will have to be served. At the end of the compassionate care leave, if the family member who has not served a waiting period claims regular, sickness or maternity benefits, a 2-week waiting period will need to be served at that time.
To know more on the 2-week waiting period...
top - Do I have to fill out reports during compassionate care benefits?
No, but you must sign a declaration of exemption at the time of applying.
top - Can I work while receiving compassionate care benefits?
Yes. If you work while on compassionate care 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.
top - Can I receive compassionate care benefits to care for a family member who has a disability or suffers from a chronic disease or long-term illness?
No. However, if this family member is gravely ill with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks, you can claim compassionate care benefits.
top - Can I receive compassionate care benefits if the gravely ill family member whom I am helping lives outside Canada?
Yes. Compassionate care benefits can be paid to allow you to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks, no matter where that family member lives. You have to apply for benefits and submit the same information/documents as required if that gravely ill person were in Canada.
top - Do I need to inform Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) if the gravely ill family member dies while I'm receiving compassionate care benefits?
Yes. Should the gravely ill family member die while you are collecting compassionate care benefits, you must let us know immediately to prevent unnecessary EI overpayments. In that case, 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 or go to your Service Canada Centre. Benefits are paid to the end of the week in which the gravely ill family member dies.
