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Can You Get EI If You Quit? Just Cause Explained

Updated

If you quit, you can get regular Employment Insurance (EI) only if you had just cause. Otherwise you’re disqualified from regular benefits for that job. This page explains what just cause means and how to show it.

What just cause means

Under the Employment Insurance Act, you had just cause if you had no reasonable alternative to leaving, considering all the circumstances. Service Canada asks two things: was the reason serious, and did you try reasonable alternatives first, such as raising the problem with your employer, asking for a transfer or leave, or finding another job before you left?

The Act lists circumstances that are considered, including:

  • sexual or other harassment,
  • having to go with a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child to another home,
  • discrimination on a ground covered by the Canadian Human Rights Act,
  • working conditions that are dangerous to your health or safety,
  • having to care for a child or a member of your immediate family,
  • a reasonable assurance of another job in the immediate future,
  • a significant change in your pay or its terms,
  • excessive overtime, or refusal to pay for overtime,
  • significant changes in your duties,
  • antagonism with a supervisor that you weren't mainly responsible for,
  • employer practices that are against the law,
  • discrimination because you belong to a union or workers' association,
  • undue pressure from your employer to leave,
  • and other reasonable circumstances set out in the regulations.

Source: Employment Insurance Act, s. 29(c).

Reasons like wanting a change, disliking the job or going back to school usually aren’t just cause on their own.

If you’re disqualified

Quitting without just cause disqualifies you from regular benefits for that benefit period. The disqualification is lifted if you later work enough insurable hours in insurable jobs to qualify again (Employment Insurance Act, s. 30(1)). It doesn’t affect special benefits such as sickness or maternity benefits.

Evidence that helps

  • Records of the problem: dates, what happened, who was there.
  • What you tried: emails to your manager or HR, requests for a transfer or schedule change, union grievances.
  • Your employer’s response, or the lack of one.
  • Medical notes, if your health was affected.
  • Proof of a job offer, if you left for a job that fell through.
  • Pay stubs or contracts showing a change in pay, hours or duties.

Applying

Apply as soon as you stop working; applying more than 4 weeks after your last day can cost you benefits. Answer honestly that you quit, explain why, and attach or send your evidence. Service Canada may call you and your employer. Keep filing your reports every 2 weeks while it decides.

If you’re refused

You can challenge the decision, starting with a reconsideration within 30 days; see challenging an EI decision.

Sources

The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026. How we check facts.