If you have been off work because of an illness or injury, Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can replace part of your income while you recover. But those benefits do not last forever, and running out can be stressful, especially if you are not yet ready to return to work.
The good news is that EI sickness benefits are usually not the end of the road. Depending on your situation, you may be able to move on to another form of support, from private disability insurance to other government benefits.
Here is what happens when your EI sick benefits run out, and what you can do next.
Key Points
1. EI sickness benefits last a maximum of 26 weeks, and they usually stop automatically once you hit that limit or your benefit period ends.
2. If your illness or disability is long-term, your next options are typically private disability insurance, Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, or the Quebec Pension Plan disability pension.
3. You can often work a little while receiving a disability pension, but there are earnings limits to watch.
4. Provincial disability and social assistance programs can help if you do not qualify for a pension.
How Will You Known When Your EI Sickness Benefits Run Out?
When you reach the maximum number of weeks you are entitled to, your EI sickness benefits simply stop. There is no separate approval or renewal, and in most cases the payments end automatically. You will not usually receive a special cut-off letter, but you can always check how many weeks you have left in your My Service Canada Account before the money stops.
Service Canada does send you a benefit statement and an access code when your claim is first set up, and your claim clearly shows your maximum number of weeks. So while the ending can feel abrupt, it is not a surprise decision. Once your weeks are used up, you would generally need to work another 600 insurable hours to qualify for a brand-new EI claim later on.
Reasons Your Payments May Stop
Your EI sickness benefits can also end before you reach the 26-week maximum. Common reasons include:
- You recovered or returned to work. Once you are able to work again, you are no longer eligible for sickness benefits.
- You hit the maximum weeks for your specific claim. The number of weeks you qualify for depends on your insurable hours, so it can be fewer than 26.
- Your 52-week benefit period ended. Every EI claim runs inside a 52-week window. If that window closes, payments stop even if you have weeks left.
- You stopped submitting required information. Missing your reports or failing to provide an updated medical certificate can pause or end your benefits.
- Your income changed. Earnings or certain other income above the allowed limits can reduce or stop your payments.
How Long Can You Get EI Sickness Benefits?
EI sickness benefits last a maximum of 26 weeks, which was doubled from the previous 15-week limit in December 2022. You will receive 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of about $729 per week in 2026.
Keep in mind that 26 weeks is the ceiling, not a guarantee. The exact number of weeks you receive depends on how many insurable hours you worked, and all EI benefit types share the same 52-week benefit period.
Programs You Can Get When EI Sick Benefits Run Out
If you are healthy enough to work again, your focus will likely shift to finding a job. But if your illness or disability is long-term and you still cannot work, you have three main options to look into:
- Private disability insurance, if you have it
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits
- Disability benefits under the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), if you live in Quebec
One thing to plan for: approval for a disability pension or long-term disability insurance can take several months. If you need to cover the gap in the meantime, some people turn to a disability loan or other short-term support while they wait for a decision.
Private Disability Insurance
If your employer offers a group benefits plan, or you bought your own policy, private disability insurance is usually the first place to look. Long-term disability (LTD) coverage is designed to pick up right where short-term coverage or EI sickness benefits leave off.
LTD typically replaces around 60% to 70% of your income and can last for years, sometimes until age 65, as long as you remain disabled under the policy’s definition. You apply through the insurance company, not the government, and you will need medical documentation. Read your policy carefully, since many plans reduce your LTD payment by the amount you receive from CPP or QPP disability benefits.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Benefits
If you live outside Quebec and contributed to the CPP, the CPP disability benefit is a monthly payment for people who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability.
- Who is eligible. You must be under 65, have a disability that is both severe (you cannot regularly do any substantially gainful work) and prolonged (long-term or likely to result in death), and have made valid CPP contributions in 4 of the last 6 years (or 3 of the last 6 if you have 25 or more years of contributions).
- How much. In 2026, the maximum CPP disability benefit is $1,741.20 per month, made up of a flat-rate portion of $610.46 plus an amount based on your contributions. The average payment is closer to $1,210 per month.
- How to apply. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or by mail. You will complete the application form (ISP-1151) and have your doctor complete a medical report, and you will need your SIN and banking details.
Disability Benefits Under the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
If you live in Quebec and contributed to the QPP, the disability pension works similarly to CPP but is run by Retraite Quebec.
- Who is eligible. You must be under 65 and have contributed to the QPP for at least 2 of the last 3 years of your contributory period. Your disability must be severe and permanent (for those under 60), while a more flexible “usual work” test applies from age 60 to 64.
- How much. In 2026, the QPP disability pension can reach a maximum of $1,737.67 per month, indexed each January to the cost of living.
- How to apply. Apply through Retraite Quebec, online or by mail, with the required medical documentation.
Here is a quick side-by-side look at the two pensions.
| CPP Disability | QPP Disability | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it applies | Everywhere except Quebec | Quebec |
| Maximum monthly (2026) | $1,741.20 | $1,737.67 |
| Contribution rule | 4 of the last 6 years (or 3 of 6 with 25+ years) | 2 of the last 3 years |
| Age | Under 65 | Under 65 |
| Apply through | Service Canada | Retraite Quebec |
Can You Work Part-Time And Receive These Benefits?
Yes, in many cases you can do some work while receiving a disability pension, but each plan has earnings limits, and going over them can trigger a review or end your payments.
CPP Disability
You can earn up to $7,400 per year (2026, before tax) without it affecting your benefit or needing to tell Service Canada. Once you earn more than that, you must let them know, and they may review whether you are able to work. Earnings above roughly $20,971 per year (2026) are generally treated as proof that you can work regularly, which can end your benefit. If you try working and your disability forces you to stop within two years, your benefit can be reinstated quickly without a new application.
QPP Disability
In Quebec, employment earnings of $22,593 or more in 2026 will affect your disability pension, and the pension ends in the month you reach that amount. If you are between 60 and 64 and receiving the pension under the reduced-work rule, your monthly earnings must stay under $1,882 in 2026. It is always best to report any return to work to Retraite Quebec so there are no surprises.
Other Benefits You May Apply For If EI Sickness Runs Out
If you do not qualify for a disability pension, or you need extra help, federal and provincial programs may be able to support you.
On the federal side, the new Canada Disability Benefit provides up to $200 per month for low-income, working-age Canadians who have been approved for the Disability Tax Credit. Most provinces and territories also run their own disability or social assistance programs.
| Program | Province | Approximate Monthly Amount | What It Is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) | Ontario | Up to about $1,400 (single) | Income and shelter support for people with disabilities |
| Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) | Alberta | Up to about $1,900 | Support for adults with a severe, permanent disability |
| Disability Assistance (PWD) | British Columbia | Up to about $1,480 (single) | Monthly assistance for people designated as having a disability |
| Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) | Saskatchewan | Varies by situation | Income support for people with significant, long-term disabilities |
| Basic Income Program | Quebec | Up to about $1,200 | Support for people with a severe, long-term limitation on employment |
Amounts are adjusted regularly and depend on your living situation, income, and assets, so check your provincial program for the current figures.
Disability Support Available Across Canada
- The Child Disability Benefit (CDB)
- The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Disability Program
- The British Columbia Disability Assistance Program
- The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- The Nova Scotia Disability Support Program (DSP)
- New Brunswick Disability Support Program
- The Manitoba Children’s disABILITY Services (CDS) Program
- Alberta Family Support For Children With Disabilities (FSCD)
- Alberta Aids To Daily Living (AADL)
- Saskatchewan Assured Income For Disability (SAID)
Can You Get Regular EI Once EI Sickness Runs Out?
Possibly, but it is not automatic. To collect regular EI, you have to be able to work and actively looking for a job, which can be a catch, since you claimed sickness benefits because you could not work in the first place.
If you have recovered and lost your job, you may be able to switch to regular EI, as long as you still have weeks left in your 52-week benefit period and enough insurable hours. Keep in mind that all EI types share the same claim, so if you already collected regular EI in the past year, it can reduce the sickness weeks available to you, and the other way around. If your benefit period has ended, you would need to build up insurable hours and start a new claim.
Bottom Line
Running out of EI sickness benefits does not mean running out of options. If you are ready to work, regular EI may be within reach. If your condition is long-term, private disability insurance, CPP or QPP disability benefits, and provincial programs can help replace your income. Because approvals take time, it pays to start your next application before your EI sickness benefits end, so you are not left with a gap in support.
What To Do When EI Sick Benefits Run Out FAQs
If you are well enough to work, you may be able to switch to regular EI. If your illness or disability is long-term, look into private long-term disability insurance, CPP or QPP disability benefits, and your provincial disability or social assistance program. Because these take time to approve, it is best to apply before your sickness benefits end.
Yes, but not right away in most cases. To start a new EI claim, you generally need to work another 600 insurable hours after your previous claim ends. You may also switch to regular EI within the same 52-week benefit period if you are able to work and have weeks remaining.
No. EI sickness benefits are capped at 26 weeks and cannot be extended beyond that maximum. If you still cannot work after 26 weeks, your next step is usually long-term disability insurance or a CPP or QPP disability benefit rather than more EI.
After 26 weeks, your EI sickness benefits stop. If you have recovered, you can return to work or apply for regular EI. If you are still unable to work, you would move on to another form of support, such as private disability insurance or a government disability pension.
References
- Government of Canada. (2026). EI sickness benefits: How much you could receive. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness/benefit-amount.html
- Government of Canada. (2026). Canada Pension Plan disability benefits: How much you could receive. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit/benefit-amount.html
- Retraite Quebec. (2026). Disability pension under the Quebec Pension Plan. https://www.retraitequebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/disability/disability-benefits-quebec-pension-plan/disability-pension
