EI fishing benefits

Who is eligible?

The Employment Insurance (EI) fishing benefits program is designed for self-employed fishers who are actively seeking work. Fishers' eligibility is determined by their earnings from self-employment in fishing during their defined qualifying periods. It is essential for these self-employed individuals to earn a specified minimum income based on the unemployment rate in their region to qualify for regular fishing benefits or special benefits such as sickness, maternity, parental, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits.

Who is not eligible

This benefit is specifically tailored for self-employed fishers actively seeking work, thus narrowing eligibility by the nature of employment. Companies or industries outside this sector do not qualify for these benefits.

• Businesses not involved in self-employed fishing activities.
• Industries unrelated to fishing seeking regular employment insurance benefits.

Eligible expenses

The Employment Insurance (EI) fishing benefits aim to support self-employed fishers who are actively seeking work while also being eligible for various special benefits. The activities eligible for this grant revolve primarily around fishing-related earnings and caregiving responsibilities.

• Seeking work actively as a self-employed fisher.
• Self-employed fishing activities that meet the earnings criteria during the qualifying period.
• Caregiving activities for family members with serious medical conditions under compassionate care benefits.
• Providing care for a critically ill child or adult family member under family caregiver benefits.
• Taking maternity or parental leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.
• Temporarily stopping fishing activities due to medical reasons and claiming sickness benefits.

Eligible geographic areas

This employment insurance program applies to self-employed fishers in Canada. Eligibility is determined by regional unemployment rates but does not specify particular eligible geographical areas beyond national application.

Here are additional relevant details for the EI fishing benefits:

• The qualifying period can be impacted if an application was previously approved within the last 31 weeks.
• The family supplement is available and can increase the benefit rate up to 80% of average insurable earnings for low income families.
• Benefits from this program are taxable and federal as well as provincial or territorial taxes will be deducted from payments.
• The maximum duration for receiving fishing benefits is 26 weeks within a 37-38 week benefit period, but this can extend up to 52 weeks if claiming special benefits such as sickness benefits.
• Application must be done no later than four weeks after the last day of work, the end date of the fishing trip, or the date of selling the catch to a buyer.
• The application process online takes approximately one hour, and information is saved for only 72 hours if not completed.
• Employers are required to issue records of employment (ROEs) for past and recent jobs, viewable on My Service Canada Account, to aid in determining eligibility and the amount of benefits.