Employment insurance benefits for the self-employed come into effect

February 02, 2010

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development,  introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act, legislation extending Employment Insurance (EI) special benefits, including maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits, to the selfemployed.

 As a self-employed person, individuals are able to enter into an agreement with the Commission through Service Canada starting on January 31, 2010. If you enter into an agreement between January 31, 2010 and April 1, 2010, you will be able to make a claim for EI special benefits as early as January 2011.

However, if you enter into an agreement with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission after April 1, 2010, you will have to wait 12 months before you will be able to make a claim for EI special benefits.

Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London has spoken to many individuals over the past 3 months on this specific benefit and the office has started to receive calls on how to get involved. “It is a wonderful program, especially for families. This will give them options that they never had before.”

For more information on how to participate, visit the following website address or contact the constituency office.
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/faq_self_employed_workers.shtml