Employment insurance payments, by type of benefit

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One employment insurance dollar in five is now paid to new parents

  • The funds the employment insurance (EI) plan disburses to offset job loss, known as regular benefits, far outweigh those disbursed for all other benefit categories. In 2007, regular benefit payments averaged $707 million each month and accounted for 58% of all EI benefits received by Canadians.

  • Just under one-fifth of EI benefits took the form of maternity, parental or adoption benefits in 2007, compared with slightly more than one-tenth in 2000. This change was the result of amendments to the federal EI plan in 2000 and 2002, including a significant increase in the maximum number of weeks of parental and adoption benefits.

  • The number of parental leave beneficiaries has grown greatly since changes to the parental benefits program took effect on January 1, 2001. Women's claims went from about 30,000 in 2000 to 99,000 in 2007 (a 230% increase), while men's claims increased from about 1,600 in 2000 to 7,800 in 2007 (a 382% increase).

Chart K.3
Distribution of employment insurance payments, by type of benefit, 2007

Chart K.3 Distribution of employment insurance payments, by type of benefit, 2007

1. Other refers to self-employment, Job Creation Partnerships, Targeted Wage Subsidies, work-sharing benefits and compassionate care benefits.
Source: Statistics Canada, Employment Insurance Program, CANSIM table 276-0005.

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