Employment Insurance (EI) — Caregiving Benefits: walk in or by phone. Who it's for: Family member or someone considered like family to a person who is critically ill or injured or needs end-of-life care (certified by a….
Categories: Caregiver Support, End of Life / Palliative Care, Financial Aid
If you need time off work to care for someone who is critically ill, injured, or near the end of life, EI caregiving benefits can pay part of your wages. You don't have to be related or live with them. ▸ Who can get this? • You are family, or someone the person sees as family. • A doctor or nurse practitioner certifies the person is critically ill or injured, or needs end-of-life care. • Employees: you worked 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks, and your weekly pay dropped more than 40% for at least 1 week. • Self-employed: your EI agreement has been active for 12 months or more, you earned at least $9,254 net from self-employment in 2025 (for benefits in 2026), and your time working in your business dropped by more than 40% for at least 1 week. ▸ What you get • Up to 35 weeks to care for a critically ill or injured child (under 18). • Up to 15 weeks to care for a critically ill or injured adult (18 or older). • Up to 26 weeks of compassionate care for someone at the end of life. • Caregivers can share the weeks. ▸ How to apply 1. Apply online as soon as you stop working. 2. Send the medical certificate and other forms after you apply. ▸ What you need • A medical certificate from a doctor or nurse practitioner. • A signed Authorization to Release Medical Information. • If you are not related: an attestation form signed by the person (or their legal representative). ▸ Good to know • If you wait, you may lose benefits. • An online application is saved for only 72 hours.
Also known as: EI compassionate care caregiver benefit family caregiver critically ill child adult end of life palliative leave
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