Compassionate care benefits may be paid up to a maximum of 6 weeks to a person who has to be absent from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member at risk of dying within 26 weeks. Unemployed persons on EI can also ask for this type of benefits.

To qualify for the compassionate care employment insurance benefits, an applicant must have worked 600 hours in the previous 52 weeks, and also must show that regular weekly earnings have decreased by 40 percent. A medical certificate must be provided to show that the family member has a high risk of death within 26 weeks.

Compassionate care includes providing emotional support, arranging for third-party support or directly providing the care. The benefits apply to care for a gravely ill child, spouse or common-law partner, and parent, and include spouses and common-law partners of parents.

The compassionate care benefits can be shared between eligible family members and the dying family member can be in another country.

Additional Information available at: Employment Insurance (EI) Compassionate Care Benefits

Related topic: Family Medical Leave