EI sickness benefits replace a portion of your income when illness, injury, or quarantine prevents you from working. Understanding eligibility and the application process lets you access this income protection quickly.
For context on how sickness benefits fit into the EI system, see Employment Insurance Canada overview and compare the coverage to EI maternity and parental benefits.
EI Sickness Benefits at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Payment rate | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $668/week (2026) |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks |
| Waiting period | 1 week (unpaid) |
| Minimum insurable hours required | 600 hours in the last 52 weeks |
| Can combine with other EI | Yes — maternity, parental, caregiving |
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for EI sickness benefits, you must meet all of these:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Insurable hours | 600+ hours in the last 52 weeks (or since your last EI claim) |
| Unable to work | Due to illness, injury, or quarantine — must be certified |
| Would otherwise be working | You are not on an unrelated leave |
| Regular weekly earnings reduced | By more than 40% due to the medical condition |
| Resident of Canada | Must be a Canadian resident when claiming |
You do not need to have been laid off. EI sickness benefits are available to employed and recently employed Canadians who cannot work due to medical reasons.
How much you receive
Your weekly sickness benefit is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the maximum:
| Average weekly insurable earnings | Weekly EI sickness benefit |
|---|---|
| $400/week | $220/week |
| $600/week | $330/week |
| $800/week | $440/week |
| $1,000/week | $550/week |
| $1,215+/week | $668/week (maximum) |
Annual maximum insurable earnings for EI in 2026: $68,900. If you earn more than this, your EI sickness benefit is still capped at $668/week.
Tax on sickness benefits
EI sickness benefits are fully taxable income. Service Canada withholds income tax from each payment. If you have other income in the same year (prior employment income, investment income), you may owe additional tax at filing. You can ask Service Canada to increase withholding.
How to apply for EI sickness benefits
Step 1: Get a medical certificate
Your doctor, nurse practitioner, or other qualified medical practitioner must certify:
- That you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or quarantine
- The estimated recovery period
You do not need to submit the medical certificate with your initial application — Service Canada will ask for it during processing.
Step 2: Apply online
- Go to canada.ca/ei and log into My Service Canada Account (MSCA)
- Select Apply for EI → choose Sickness Benefits
- Enter your information, last employer, and reason for applying
- Submit — you will receive a claim number immediately
Apply as soon as possible after stopping work. The 1-week waiting period starts from the date you apply, not the date you stopped working. Delaying your application means delaying when benefits begin.
Step 3: Complete biweekly reports
Every two weeks, you must submit an online claimant report confirming:
- You are still unable to work
- Any partial work or earnings during the period
- Your medical status
Missing a biweekly report suspends payments until you file it. You can file late reports retroactively.
Sickness benefits vs. employer short-term disability (STD)
| Feature | EI Sickness | Employer STD Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Payment rate | 55% of insurable earnings | 60–70% (typical) |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks | 17–26 weeks (varies by plan) |
| Funded by | Employee/employer EI premiums | Employer / employee group insurance |
| Waiting period | 1 week (EI) | 0–14 days (varies by plan) |
| Taxable | Yes | Yes (if employer paid premiums) |
| Can collect both? | No — you cannot double-dip for the same period | N/A |
If your employer has STD insurance, it typically pays first. Once STD exhausts (usually at week 17 or 26), you may transition to EI sickness benefits for the remaining weeks. Coordinate with your employer’s HR or benefits administrator.
Combining sickness benefits with other EI
EI sickness benefits can be layered with other EI benefit types within a single benefit year:
| Combination | Maximum combined weeks |
|---|---|
| Sickness + Regular EI | Up to 50 weeks combined (in some circumstances) |
| Sickness + Maternity | 15 weeks maternity + 26 weeks sickness = 41 weeks |
| Sickness + Standard Parental | 26 sickness + 40 parental |
| Sickness + Caregiving | 26 sickness + caregiver weeks |
Common scenario: a parent goes on maternity leave, then develops a medical condition before returning to work. They may be able to use EI sickness benefits to extend their time away before the maternity/parental period begins, or after parental benefits end.
When sickness benefits end: your options
If your 26 weeks of EI sickness benefits run out but you are still unable to return to work:
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| CPP Disability | If your condition is severe and prolonged; apply through Service Canada |
| Provincial disability programs | BC DPFB, Ontario ODSP, AB AISH, etc. — income tested |
| Long-term disability (LTD) insurance | Through employer group plan or individual policy — applies after STD exhausts |
| Sick leave / unpaid medical leave | Employment Standards Act protections vary by province |
Return to work gradually where your condition allows. EI sickness benefits end when you return to work, not after 26 weeks if you recover sooner.