The federal government has introduced a new online tool to help Canadians quickly estimate their potential Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, an initiative designed to streamline access and improve service delivery, according to Service Canada.
The EI Benefits Estimator, announced by Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services, offers an accessible way for individuals, including those facing significant life changes such as job loss, to gain clarity on the support they could be eligible for. By answering a few questions anonymously, users can receive an estimate of both the benefits they might qualify for and the duration of support, based on their specific circumstances.
“This new online EI Benefits Estimator tool is designed to help Canadians get the information they need about benefits,” Beech said. “Canadians expect to have accessible and reliable information at their fingertips, particularly during major life events.” Beech noted that the tool reduces the need for claimants to wait in line or on hold, allowing them to access critical information quickly.
The Benefits Estimator is part of Service Canada’s broader Benefits Delivery Modernization Programme for EI, a multi-year initiative to improve the service experience for all Canadians, particularly those from vulnerable populations. According to Service Canada, the program will be rolled out incrementally in a series of “small and well-measured steps.”
In addition to estimating regular EI benefits, the new tool also covers Family Caregiver, Compassionate Care, Sickness, Parental, and Maternity benefits. According to government data, a total of $19.7 billion was paid for all EI benefits combined in the fiscal year 2022-23, with 3.13 million EI applications processed in 2023-2024. Approximately 86.4 per cent of payments or notifications of non-payment were issued within 28 days, while claimants received their first EI payment in an average of 18 days.
Service Canada also reported improvements in client call times, with average waiting times reduced from 18 minutes in 2022-2023 to just 4 minutes in 2023-2024. These enhancements underscore the department’s commitment to improving access and experience for EI claimants, Beech said.
Access the EI Benefits Estimator at https://estimateurae-eiestimator.service.canada.ca/en