What is the difference between regular EI benefits and special benefits?
Regular EI benefits are provided as temporary financial assistance to unemployed individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and are available for work. There are four types of EI special benefits available to Canadians, depending on their situation. EI special benefits include maternity, parental, sickness, and compassionate care benefits. The EI program extends access to those special benefits to self-employed people on a voluntary basis.
