Back For More: Secondary Claims For EI Benefits In Canada

Introduction

In Canada, Employment Insurance ("EI") provides temporary income support to unemployed individuals as they search for new employment. The critical role of EI in supporting Canadian workers through transition periods is well known, but there are different rules that govern EI entitlements when an individual endures a new life event after an initial EI claim and must reapply (i.e., submitting a "secondary claim").

In light of a recent case before the Social Security Tribunal of Canada (the "SST"), this blog provides employers with a practical overview of the rules governing EI benefit entitlements, clarifies the legal distinction between overlapping claims for "regular" and "special" EI benefits, and offers practical insights to employers assessing the EI-related impacts of a termination.