Find out if you may qualify for Employment Insurance sickness benefits
Based on official Government of Canada guidelines
What EI Sickness Benefits Offer
EI sickness benefits provide up to 26 weeks of financial assistance if you cannot work for medical reasons. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $729 per week (2024 rate).
Medical reasons include illness, injury, quarantine, or any medical condition that prevents you from working.
Quick Eligibility Checker
Answer these questions to check if you may be eligible:
☑️Are you unable to work due to illness, injury, quarantine, or medical reasons?
☑️Have your regular weekly earnings decreased by more than 40% for at least one week?
☑️Have you accumulated at least 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks?
☑️Do you have a medical certificate signed by an authorized practitioner?
☑️Are you otherwise available for work if not for your medical condition?
If you answered YES to all questions, you likely meet the basic eligibility criteria.
Detailed Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for EI sickness benefits, you need to demonstrate that:
You're unable to work for medical reasons – illness, injury, quarantine, or any medical condition
Your regular weekly earnings have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week
You accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before your claim starts (or since your last claim, whichever is shorter)
You remain otherwise available for work – meaning you would work if not for your medical condition
⚠️ Important: While receiving sickness benefits, you must remain otherwise available for work, if it weren't for your medical condition.
Medical Certificate Requirements
You must get a medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner when you apply for sickness benefits. You have two options:
Use Service Canada's Medical certificate for Employment Insurance sickness benefits form, OR
Use your medical practitioner's own certificate form – it must include:
Your medical practitioner's letterhead or official stamp
Your name
Start date of your illness/injury/quarantine
Expected duration (if known)
Medical practitioner's handwritten, electronic or stamped signature
Be readable
Who Can Complete Your Medical Certificate
The following medical practitioners can complete and sign your certificate. They must practise in Canada or the United States, and the illness must be in their field:
Medical doctor
Chiropractor
Podiatrist
Optometrist
Psychologist
Dentist
Midwife
Nurse practitioner
Registered nurse (in isolated areas when a doctor is unavailable)
Keep your medical certificate in a safe place for 6 years. Service Canada will let you know if you need to submit it. They may request it later for verification.
Employer-Paid Sick Leave
Before applying for EI sickness benefits, check with your employer to find out if they have:
Paid sick leave plan
Short-term disability plan
Some employers provide their own plans. This may affect your EI benefits.
If You Had a Recent EI Claim
If you received Employment Insurance benefits in the past 52 weeks, you may not be eligible to receive the maximum 26 weeks of sickness benefits. However:
If you've worked enough hours since your last claim, you may be able to start a new claim
Contact Service Canada to find out what's best for your situation
If You Have a Long-Term or Permanent Disability
If your medical condition is expected to be long-term or permanent, you may be eligible for other benefits:
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits
Disability benefits under the Québec Pension Plan (QPP) for Quebec residents
If You Get Sick During Pregnancy
If you have health complications during pregnancy, you could be eligible for:
Sickness benefits – for medical reasons during pregnancy
Maternity benefits – for childbirth and recovery
You must meet the conditions for each benefit. You cannot receive both at the same time for the same period.
Benefit Payment Calculation
Your Weekly Earnings
55% of Earnings
Actual Benefit (capped at $729)
$500
$275
$275
$1,000
$550
$550
$1,500
$825
$729 (maximum)
$2,000
$1,100
$729 (maximum)
Note: You receive 55% of your earnings, up to the maximum of $729 per week.
How to Apply
Gather your documents:
Medical certificate from your practitioner
Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer(s)
SIN number
Banking information for direct deposit
Apply online through Service Canada's website
Apply as soon as possible – benefits can only be paid back up to 4 weeks after your last day of work
Complete bi-weekly reports to continue receiving payments
Don't delay your application: Benefits can only be paid retroactively for a maximum of 4 weeks from your last day of work. Apply as soon as you stop working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use the EI sickness benefit duration calculator instead of just calling Service Canada?▼
Because waiting on hold for 45 minutes just to get a basic answer is a pain. This EI sickness benefit duration calculator tells you right away if you qualify for the full 26 weeks or less, based on your recent claim history. No phone tree, no transfer wait.
Who is this EI sickness benefit rules tool designed for?▼
This EI sickness benefit rules tool is for anyone who's sick, injured, or in quarantine and wondering if they qualify. That includes regular employees, self-employed people who opted into EI, and even those who don't have the full 600 hours. If you need time off for medical reasons, start here.
Is the EI medical leave duration checker free for everyone?▼
100% free. No sign up, no credit card, no hidden fees. This EI medical leave duration checker works for all Canadian workers. Whether you're a full time employee, part time worker, or self employed, it costs nothing to check how many weeks you might get.
Does the EI sickness benefit eligibility tool save my personal data or share it with anyone?▼
No way. This EI sickness benefit eligibility tool does not save, store, or share any of your information. No SIN, no name, no medical details, no email. Your answers stay in your browser. We never see them and we never sell your data. Completely private.
Does this Canadian EI sickness benefit rules calculator provide accurate information?▼
Yes. This Canadian EI sickness benefit rules calculator follows official Service Canada rules. That means the 26 week maximum, the 600 hour requirement, the medical certificate rule for quarantine, and the difference between EI sickness and CPP disability. It won't guarantee approval, but it gives you a straight answer before you call Service Canada.
⚠️This tool is for information purpose only. We do not guarantee any claim. It is made based on data publicaly available on official website of concerned department.
Last Updated: March 2026 | Official Determination Required
