Losing your income because of an illness or injury is one of the most stressful things that can happen. On top of managing your health, you’re suddenly facing questions about how you’ll pay your bills, how long your coverage lasts and what happens if it runs out before you’re ready to go back to work.

Canada has a layered safety net for exactly this situation. EI sickness benefits provide short-term income replacement while you recover, and they can connect to a broader system of private disability insurance and federal disability programs depending on your circumstances. This guide walks through each layer clearly, so you know what you’re entitled to, how to apply and what to do if things don’t go smoothly.

What are EI sickness benefits?

EI sickness benefits are temporary financial assistance provided to Canadians who are unable to work due to illness, injury or quarantine. They are designed to replace a portion of your income while you recover and are administered by the Government of Canada through Service Canada.

EI is funded entirely by premiums paid by employers and employees, not by general government revenue. Before applying for EI sickness benefits, the federal government recommends checking whether your employer provides paid sick leave or short-term disability coverage, as these may bridge or reduce the gap before EI kicks in.

Currently, eligible Canadians can receive up to 26 weeks of EI sickness benefits. This was extended from 15 weeks on December 18, 2022, providing significantly more support for those with longer recoveries.

Eligibility requirements for EI sickness benefits

To qualify for EI sickness benefits, you need to meet all of the following criteria.

Insurable hours

You must have accumulated at least 600 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks. This is a hard requirement regardless of which province you live in.

Earnings drop

Your regular weekly earnings from work must have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week due to your medical condition.

Medical certificate

You must obtain a medical certificate signed by your treating medical professional. The certificate must confirm that you are unable to work for medical reasons, and include the start date and expected duration of your incapacity. Keep this certificate for six years in case of a future audit.

Job loss reasons

Generally, you cannot qualify if you left your job voluntarily or were let go for misconduct. However, effective August 25, 2026, a temporary EI flexibility measure means workers who voluntarily left employment in recent months will not be penalized when seeking EI, provided their most recent job loss was through no fault of their own.

Mental health conditions are fully eligible

EI sickness benefits cover physical and mental health conditions equally. If you’re managing anxiety, depression, burnout, or any other mental health diagnosis that prevents you from working, you are eligible to apply. For more on navigating this at work, our guide to mental health support at work covers what employers can do to support their people.

Before applying, explore our resource on how to ask for an extended leave of absence so you can coordinate with your employer before your application is submitted.

How much do EI sickness benefits pay?

EI sickness benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the federal maximum. Benefits are taxable income.

The 2027 rates were announced effective September 14, 2026, and reflect the increased MIE ceiling for claims beginning in 2027.

Temporary relief measures (effective August 25, 2026)

For claims established between March 30, 2025, and October 10, 2026, a temporary EI relief measure waives the standard one-week waiting period and suspends the deduction of severance and vacation pay from EI benefits. If your claim falls within this window, you may begin receiving payments sooner than you otherwise would.

How to apply for EI sickness benefits

Apply as soon as you stop working. Waiting to apply in applying can delay your payments or result in lost benefits. Here’s how the process works:

1. Stop working and notify your employer. Let your employer know you need to stop work due to a medical condition and request a Record of Employment (ROE).
2. Apply online through My Service Canada Account. Apply even if your ROE or medical certificate isn’t ready yet. Missing documents cause delays, but waiting for them to apply causes more.
3. Submit your medical certificate. Your treating medical professional must complete and sign a certificate confirming your inability to work, including the start date and expected duration of your incapacity.
4. Wait for processing. If approved, your first payment typically arrives around 28 days after your application.
5. Complete regular EI check-ins. You’ll need to report your status periodically. Report all earnings accurately and submit any required documentation on time to keep your payments flowing.

Missing or incorrect ROEs are one of the most common causes of processing delays. If your employer hasn’t issued one, follow up promptly.

Navigating private short-term and long-term disability insurance

Government EI benefits are rarely the only layer of support available. Most employees move through a sequence of coverage:

Paid sick leave or short-term disability (STD) is usually provided by an employer or private insurance plan and covers the initial period off work, often days or weeks.

EI sickness benefits follow if your STD coverage runs out or doesn’t exist, covering up to 26 weeks.

Long-term disability (LTD) is designed for extended incapacity, typically paying 60% to 85% of regular earnings over a longer period.

The handoff is not automatic

One of the most important things to understand is that moving from STD to LTD takes work on your part. Most LTD claims require you to complete a waiting or elimination period, and many require you to first apply for EI. Start investigating your LTD eligibility and deadlines while you’re still receiving short-term benefits, so you’re not taken by surprise when STD ends.

Coordination with CPP or QPP disability

Many private LTD plans reduce your payment by the amount you receive from CPP or QPP disability benefits. This is called a coordination of benefits clause. Check your plan documents carefully so you’re not caught off guard by a reduction in your LTD payment.

Tax treatment

Disability insurance benefits are generally tax-free if you paid the full cost of the premiums yourself. If your employer paid all or part of the premiums, the benefits are taxable. Check your plan to confirm who paid and plan your tax obligations accordingly.

Federal disability support: CPP disability and the Canada Disability Benefit

For Canadians with severe and prolonged conditions, two federal programs provide longer-term support.

CPP Disability

CPP Disability provides a monthly benefit to people under 65 who have a severe and prolonged disability that prevents them from working regularly. To qualify, you need valid CPP contributions in four of the last six years, or three of the last six years if you have 25 or more years of contributions.

For 2026, CPP disability benefits were indexed by 2.0%. The maximum monthly benefit is $1,741.20, made up of a flat-rate portion of $610.46 plus an earnings-related portion of up to $1,130.74. Allow around 120 days for processing.

Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)

Launched May 15, 2025, the Canada Disability Benefit provides up to $2,400 annually ($200 per month) to low-income, working-age Canadians aged 18 to 64 who hold a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate. The benefit is reduced by 20 cents for every dollar of income above $23,000 for single recipients, or $32,500 for couples.

Two important updates:

• As of September 8, 2026, the CRA stopped accepting pre-2023 versions of Form T2201, the DTC application required to access the CDB. If you or someone you’re supporting needs to apply, use only the current version of the form.
• Starting September 17, 2026, a one-time supplemental payment of $150 will be issued automatically to those who received a CDB payment between July 2025 and June 2026, to help offset DTC certification costs.

What happens when EI sickness benefits run out?

When your 26 weeks of EI sickness benefits are exhausted, you have several options depending on your situation.

Transitioning to regular EI

If you’ve recovered and are able to work and actively looking for employment, you can transition from sickness benefits to regular EI. Under temporary measures effective April 8, 2026, eligible long-tenured workers can receive up to 20 additional weeks of regular EI benefits, up to a maximum of 65 weeks total, for claims established between June 15, 2025, and October 10, 2026.

Reapplying for EI

If your condition recurs after a period of work, you can reapply for EI sickness benefits. To qualify for a new claim, you generally need to have worked another 600 insurable hours since your last claim and provide accepted medical proof.

Transitioning to long-term support

If you still can’t work, the next step is typically transitioning to private LTD or CPP Disability, depending on your circumstances and what you’ve already applied for.

If you don’t qualify or your benefits run out early

If you don’t qualify for EI sickness benefits or your coverage ends before you’re ready to return to work, taking a leave without pay may be an option worth exploring. Community and charitable organizations can also provide financial support during gaps in coverage.

When you’re ready to come back, our guide to returning to work after an extended leave of absence covers what to expect and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Handling denied claims and appeals

A denied claim is not the end of the road, but timing matters.

If your EI sickness benefit claim is denied, you have 30 days from the date of the decision to file an appeal. Missing this window forfeits your right to appeal that decision, so act promptly if you disagree with the outcome.

 A denial from one program does not automatically carry over to others. EI, CPP Disability and private LTD all have different eligibility rules and definitions of disability. Being denied for one does not mean you’ll be denied for the others. Apply to each program on its own merits.

If your LTD claim is denied, review the reasons carefully, gather supporting medical documentation and consider seeking legal advice from an employment or disability lawyer before your appeal deadline passes.