Employment Insurance

Provides temporary financial assistance for unemployed Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills.

For an unemployed person to qualify they must have paid into the Employment Insurance (EI) plan as an employee, have been laid off, have worked a certain number of hours within the past year, be available and actively searching for work. Other conditions may also apply.

Benefits are also available (under certain conditions)  to eligible workers who are sick, pregnant, or caring for a newborn or adopted child, as well as those who must care for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death or who must provide care or support to their critically ill or injured child.

For more information, go to these website links:

• Regular Benefits
• Maternity and Parental Benefits
• Sickness Benefits
• Compassionate Care Benefits
• For Parents of Critically Ill Children Special Benefits

Service Canada Centres in Nelson & Trail and Outreach Sites in Castlegar and Grand Forks are listed separately in the Directory

For information about appealing a negative decision regarding a claim see Employment Insurance Appeals Process.