Types of Employment Insurance Benefits

Benefits provided through the Employment Insurance program are divided into two parts.  Part I (Income benefits) is administered by the federal government and includes income benefits to those temporarily out of work.  They are:

• Regular Benefits paid to persons who are unemployed and looking for work
• Special Benefits paid to persons who can’t work due to sickness, injury, quarantine, maternity or parental leave
• Compassionate Care Benefits paid to persons who have to be absent from work to provide care or support to a gravely ill family member. 

Part II (Employment benefits) is administered by the provincial governments and includes employment benefits such as training, self-employment assistance, career counseling, job placement services, and labour market information.  These benefits are offered to help participants to obtain employment.