Find Your Financial Success

Find Your Financial Success

Employment Insurance And Other Financial Support

Employment Insurance

If you're unemployed, you may be able to get Employment Insurance (EI). EI gives you short-term financial help while you look for work or upgrade your skills.

You may also get EI benefits if you're:

  • Sick, injured or in quarantine for health reasons

  • Pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child

  • Caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a high risk of death

If you work in Canada, you must pay into EI so that you can use it in a time of need. Your employer will usually take the EI payments from your paycheque.

If you're self-employed, you can choose to take part in the EI program. To benefit from EI, you must apply and meet certain criteria.

Financial support for families

The Canada child benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCB might include the child disability benefit and any related provincial and territorial programs.

Other financial support programs

The government has other financial support programs for people in need. In most cases, you must meet certain criteria to use these programs. Use the Benefits Finder to find out more.

Child care

If you're working and have young children, you may need to arrange child care. In Canada, most families don't leave children under the age of 12 at home alone.There are different options for child care:

  • Nursery schools

  • Drop-in day-care centres

  • licensed day-care centres

  • Home-based day-care services

To learn about the options near you, speak to someone at an immigrant-serving organization.

Pension programs

There are pension programs that you may be able to use now or in the future:

  • The Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which is:

    • A program for workers and their families
    • A provider of basic financial protection if you lose income because of: (Retirement, Disability, Death)
    • Paid into by anyone who works in Canada
    • Replaced by the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) in the province of Quebec

  • The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment that most people aged 65 or older can get

    • The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly benefit paid to eligible seniors living in Canada who: (Receive OAS, Have little or no other income)

International benefits

Due to Canada's international social security agreements, people who've lived or worked in another country may be able to get:

  • Social security benefits from that country

  • OAS and CPP benefits in Canada

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