How To Get Employment Insurance (EI) If You Quit

Canadians who find themselves out of work may be able to get financial compensation from the Canadian federal government in the form of employment insurance (EI) payments. EI is a financial assistance program that is meant to help unemployed Canadians keep up with their bills.

But what about if you left your job voluntarily? Can you get EI if you quit? 

Key Points

• EI benefits are for those who lost their job through no fault of their own. However, you may qualify for EI if you voluntarily quit your job if you felt that quitting your job was your only option and can prove you had “just cause”.
• If you were denied EI and feel that it was an unjust decision, you can file an appeal.

Can You Get EI If You Quit Your Job?

Generally speaking, you won’t qualify for EI benefits if you voluntarily leave your job. EI is meant for those who want to work but are unable to work for reasons out of their control. In this case, quitting wouldn’t qualify.

However, if you had “just cause” to quit your job — whether because you were mistreated, overworked, or forced to work in unsafe conditions — you may still be able to qualify for EI, which we’ll discuss further below. 

What Is A “Just Cause”?

You may only qualify for EI benefits if you have good reason to voluntarily leave your job. 

You may qualify if you can prove that you had “just cause” to quit. Here are some reasons that can be classified as a “just cause”:

• Workplace harassment (ie. sexual, age, etc)
• Discrimination (ie. age, race, sex, etc)
• Moving to another place of residence with a spouse/partner or dependent child
• Workplace is proven to be unsafe or unhealthy
• Urgent need to care for an immediate family member
• Employer refuses to pay overtime rate
• Employer is breaking the law
• Supervisor is creating a difficult work environment
• Significant changes to terms and conditions of the job that affect salary
• Significant change in work duties

Without just cause for leaving your job, you will not be eligible for regular EI benefits. You must be able to show that quitting your job voluntarily was your only solution. 

Other Requirements To  Get EI If You Quit Your Job

Before you leave your job, it’s strongly recommended that you take every step possible to avoid becoming unemployed. The government of Canada wants to ensure you’ve taken every measure possible to resolve the situation before quitting. If you choose not to use one or more of the measures below, you’ll need to explain why. 

Otherwise, you’ll not be considered to have just cause for quitting and won’t be eligible to receive EI benefits. As such, before quitting, it’s important that you try some of the following alternatives: 

Speak With Your Employer

For starters, try to rectify the situation with your employer or union representative to see if the problem at work can be fixed. For example, consider the following alternatives before quitting:

• Ask to have your work schedule changed
• Ask to be given different responsibilities or transferred to a new department
• Find a solution to child care
• Request a leave of absence until an ideal solution is found

Check Your Employment Contract

You may also want to review your collective agreement or employment contract to find out if there’s a certain protocol that should be followed to handle a situation like yours.  

Get Legal Advice

If your labour rights are being violated, look into the laws regarding workplace health and safety or human rights. Be sure to take notes on the steps you’ve taken, and speak with an attorney if necessary. 

Ultimately, you’ll need to make sure you have just cause to quit in order to be eligible for EI benefits. If you are expecting benefits to be paid to you, you’ll need to verify whether or not just cause exists.

How Do You Prove You Had To Quit Voluntarily To Get EI? 

When you apply for EI, you must explain why quitting was your only reasonable option. You might need to gather evidence to support your side of the story. The more evidence you can collect to support your reason to quit, the better your odds of getting approved for EI. 

Evidence can include the following:

• Finding other people who can back up your claims
• Documents that show why you had felt the need to leave your job
• Notes regarding your attempt to rectify the issue and why it didn’t work

You may also consider writing to Service Canada to explain your situation. Be sure to include the evidence you gathered in your letter and keep a copy for your records. Hopefully, Service Canada will get in touch with your former employer to inquire about the facts you provided. 

How To Apply For EI If You Quit Your Job

When you’re ready to apply, you may do so online, whether from home or at an internet kiosk at a Service Canada centre. 

Are You Eligible?

Whether you’ve quit or lost your job, in order to be eligible for EI, you must meet the following requirements:

• You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident legally allowed to work in Canada
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Your job is considered insurable employment
• You’ve worked the minimum number of insurable employment hours (between 420 and 700 hours) over the last 52 weeks or since the beginning of your previous EI claim, whichever is less
• You have been out of work for at least 7 consecutive days over the last 52 weeks
• You’re ready, willing, and able to work
• You’re actively looking for a new job .

What Do You Need To Apply?

To apply for EI, you’ll need to complete and submit an application and provide the following information:

• Your SIN
• The last name at birth of one of your parents
• Your mailing address
• Your home address
• Your banking information
• Information about your employment over the last 52 weeks or since the beginning of your last claim
• Records of employment from each employer

If you quit your job before applying for EI, you’ll also need to provide the following:

• The reason why you quit your job
• The steps you took to try to rectify the situation before leaving work
• Your attempts to find another job

When Do You Have To Apply For EI If You Quit?

In general, it’s recommended that you apply for EI as early as possible after you’ve stopped working. Even if you haven’t received your record of employment (ROE) from your employer, it’s best not to delay your application. To avoid being turned down for EI, be sure to apply for benefits no more than 4 weeks after you stop working. 

How Much Can You Get On EI If You Quit? 

The benefit amounts will vary from one person to the next, as there is no specific amount that would be applicable to everyone. Instead, eligible EI recipients, including those who’ve quit (with just cause) will receive approximately 55% of their average weekly earnings. That said, there is a maximum weekly benefit of $668 per week or 63,200 a year for 2024.

How Long Can You Receive EI If You Quit?

If you’ve quit your job and qualify for EI, you’ll receive EI benefits for the same amount of time as those who lost their job through no fault of their own. The time frame within which EI benefits are paid out ranges from anywhere between 14 and 45 weeks. However, this number is based on your local unemployment rate and the number of insurable hours worked over the last 52 weeks, or since the last EI claim was filed, whichever of the two is less.  

Seasonal workers may be eligible for additional weeks of EI. Depending on when the EI claim starts, seasonal workers may be eligible for up to an additional 9 weeks.

Can You Qualify For Maternity Benefits If You Quit?

If Service Canada believes that you had just cause to quit your job, you may be eligible for special benefits, including the following:

• Sickness benefits if you can’t work due to illness or injury
• Maternity benefits if you’re pregnant or recently had a baby
• Parental benefits if you’re a parent caring for your newborn baby or a child you just adopted
• Compassionate care benefits if you must care for a family member
• Family Caregiver Benefit for Children if you must care for your sick child

What Is EI Sickness? 

EI Sickness benefits offer up to 26 weeks in payments for those who cannot work due to medical reasons. So, these benefits may not the best option for anyone who is suffering from a long-term debilitating disease or ailment that has left them unable to work. Those with long-term sickness or disability can look into Canada Pension Plan disability benefits and the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). 

What Is EI Maternity Leave?

EI maternity benefits are offered to pregnant women or mothers who have recently given birth and are unable to work as a result. Eligible recipients of maternity leave can get up to 15 weeks of EI maternity benefits. Benefits can start from 12 weeks before the expected birth to 17 weeks after the date of birth.

EI parental benefits are also available to parents who are caring for a newborn or have recently adopted children. Standard parental benefits are available for up to 35 weeks, which may also be shared between two parents.

Additional Reading

Jobboom: Everything You Need to Know

What Is A Credit Check For A Job?

Canadian Job Bank Review

Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, you may not be eligible for EI if you quit your job. EI benefits are typically reserved for those who are willing to work but are unable to do so for reasons out of their control. However, you may qualify for EI if you had just cause for quitting your job and can show that you took steps to rectify your situation. Make sure you’ve done your homework before voluntarily leaving your job if you intend to collect EI benefits.

Employment Insurance FAQs