614 Sickness benefits

Most employees in Ontario are eligible for Employment Insurance if they are sick or injured. There are rules to determine who qualifies for sickness benefits, how much you are entitled to, how long you can collect the benefits for, and how to apply.

Generally, to qualify for sickness benefits you must be unable to work because of sickness or injury, and you must have worked for at least 20 weeks during the last 52 weeks. If you become sick or injured and you are already receiving another kind of employment insurance benefit, you may also be eligible for sickness benefits. However, if you are receiving worker's compensation, now called Workplace Safety and Insurance, you will generally not be eligible for sickness benefits.

In most cases, you are entitled to 55% of your salary to a maximum of $413 per week.

Usually, you can receive up to 15 weeks of sickness benefits. If you return to work and then have to leave again for the same sickness or injury, your benefits may be reinstated. However, your benefits will have to be used up within one year from the day you originally applied for benefits or you must re-apply.

To apply for sickness benefits, you will have to fill out and submit a special form available at a Human Resources Development Canada Centre. If you are too sick to go in person, you can have the office send you an application, and then have someone else submit it for you. You should apply for sickness benefits as soon as you stop working. If you wait to apply, you may not get as much money as you would if you applied right away. If you were too sick to apply, you should say this if you apply later, and you may be able to collect the full amount.

Before you apply, you will need to get a medical certificate signed by a doctor to submit with your application. The medical certificate should explain your condition, why you cannot work, and how long you will be off work.

If you have questions about sickness benefits or if you want to apply, you can contact or visit the Human Resources Development Centre in your area.

For more information, refer to other sections of Legal Line.