EI caregiving benefits replace part of your income while you’re away from work to care for or support someone who is critically ill, injured or dying. This page covers the three benefits, who qualifies, and how the weeks work.
The three benefits
| Benefit | For caring for | Maximum weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Family caregiver benefit for children | A critically ill or injured person under 18 | 35 |
| Family caregiver benefit for adults | A critically ill or injured person 18 or older | 15 |
| Compassionate care benefits | Caring for someone with a significant risk of death within 26 weeks | 26 |
All three pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to $729 a week for claims that start in 2026 ($749 in 2027). Source: Service Canada, EI caregiving benefits.
“Critically ill or injured” means the person’s baseline health has changed significantly and their life is at risk because of an illness or injury. Compassionate care is for end of life. A medical doctor or nurse practitioner must sign a medical certificate for the person you’re caring for.
Who qualifies
- You're caring for or supporting a family member, or someone who considers you to be like family; you don't have to be related by blood or law.
- Your regular weekly earnings dropped by more than 40% for at least a week because you're providing care.
- You have 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim, or since your last claim.
Sharing the weeks
Eligible caregivers can share the weeks, at the same time or one after another. The total for all caregivers can’t be more than the maximum for that benefit: for example, if one parent takes 20 weeks of the 35-week child benefit, others can take up to 15 more. Each caregiver applies separately.
How much you get (2026)
| Average weekly insurable earnings | Weekly benefit |
|---|---|
| $600 | $330 |
| $1,000 | $550 |
| $1,325 or more | $729 (maximum) |
The benefits are taxable. Low-income families can get more through the family supplement. The EI calculator estimates your amount.
How to apply
The person you’re caring for needs a medical certificate from their doctor or nurse practitioner. Then apply online, ideally within 4 weeks of your last day of work, and report every 2 weeks; the first week is usually unpaid (waived for claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 9, 2027). See how to apply for EI.
Your job while you’re away
EI pays the benefit but doesn’t protect your job. Job protection comes from caregiver or compassionate care leave under your province’s employment standards law, or the Canada Labour Code if you work for a federally regulated employer; the rules differ by jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction’s leave lengths and certificate rules are in our caregiver leave guide.
Related pages
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 23, 2026 and October 7, 2026. How we check facts.
- Canada Revenue Agency: EI premium rates and maximums – Calculate payroll deductions and contributions
- Government of Canada: EI caregiving benefits
- Government of Canada: EI Regular Benefits - How much could you receive
- Government of Canada: EI regular benefits: Apply
- Government of Canada: EI Regular Benefits - After you apply
- Government of Canada: Temporary Employment Insurance measures to respond to major changes in economic conditions
- Government of Canada: EI caregiving benefits – Who can qualify
- Justice Laws (Canada): Employment Insurance Act
- Justice Laws (Canada): Employment Insurance Act
- Justice Laws (Canada): Employment Insurance Act