Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits
This is financial assistance offered to individuals who are not able to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine. You are eligible for EI sickness benefits if:
- You are employed in insurable employment (ie, your employer has deducted EI premiums from your wages or salary)
- You meet EI sickness benefit requirement (ie, you are unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine but would otherwise be available for work if not for your incapacity due to medical reasons); you will require a medical certificate signed by your doctor or approved medical practitioner
- Your normal weekly earnings have been reduced by more than 40%
- You have worked at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period (either the 52 week period just before the start of your EI claim or the period since the start of a previous EI benefit period)
You should apply as soon as you are no longer able to work. The EI sickness benefit is short-term and is only paid for a maximum of 15 weeks.
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Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits
This is a taxable monthly payment that is available to individuals who have contributed to the CPP and who are not able to work regularly at any job because of a disability.
You might qualify for CPP disability benefits if:
- Your illness is severe (ie, prevents you from regularly doing your job) and is expected to last a long time
- You are under the age of 65 (for those 60 to 64, you may also want to apply for CPP retirement pension)
- You made contributions to CPP by working 4 out of the last 6 years OR 3 of the last 6 years if you have contributed for at least 25 years
Quebec residents are not eligible for CPP but they may qualify for the Quebec Pension Plan.
You must apply in writing and you will need to print the main application form (ISP 1151), the consent forms and other necessary forms and mail them to Service Canada. See the application kit for CPP disability benefits for more information.
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Provincial or Territorial Benefits
Financial benefits that assist cancer patients vary greatly between provinces and territories. It will be helpful for you to meet with a social worker for more information about the available financial assistance that is specific to your province and to help you get the financial assistance that you need.
References:
Government of Canada. Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits
