Minimum EI Benefit $300 for Sept–Nov 2021

Summary#

This is an order that sets September 26, 2021 as the day a part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1 (section 328) comes into force. That change amends the Employment Insurance Act so some people who start EI claims between September 26, 2021 and November 20, 2021 are guaranteed a minimum benefit of $300 per week.

What it does#

• Brings section 328 of the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1 into force on September 26, 2021.
• Changes how weekly insurable earnings are calculated under the Employment Insurance Act (the notice does not give the technical formula here).
• Adds a temporary minimum EI benefit rate of $300 per week for claimants whose benefit period begins on or after September 26, 2021 and no later than November 20, 2021.
• Aligns EI treatment with the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), which had provided temporary payments of $500 (and later $300) per week under earlier COVID-related rules.

Who's affected#

• Mainly people making new regular Employment Insurance (EI) claims that start between September 26, 2021 and November 20, 2021.
• Other EI-related groups (for example, some special-benefit or self‑employed participants) are mentioned in background material, but the order specifically targets regular benefit claimants whose benefit period begins in that window.
• If it is unclear whether a particular claimant or situation is covered, the official EI program guidance or Employment and Social Development Canada should be consulted.

Why it matters#

• It prevents a drop in weekly income for people who start an EI claim in the late-September to mid-November 2021 window by guaranteeing at least $300 per week.
• The measure was intended to keep EI recipients on par with people receiving pandemic recovery benefits like the CRB during that transition period.
• For individuals relying on EI, this is a short-term income protection so they do not receive less than parallel recovery-benefit recipients during those dates.