Self-employed Canadians eligible for EI thanks to CREA

Does lobbying by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) make a difference?

Yes! For many years, CREA lobbied for legislation so that Canadian REALTORS® would be eligible for Employment Insurance “special benefits.”

Now, Bill C56, the federal government’s new Fairness for the Self-Employed Act has come into effect.

This new legislation extends Employment Insurance (EI) “special benefits” to self-employed Canadians, including REALTORS®.

Special benefits include maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care.

Typically to claim EI benefits you be employed for 12 months. But, if you’re self-employed, you have until April 1, 2010 if you want to participate in a one-time start-up plan which lets you collect special EI benefits as early as January 1, 2011. (After just nine months)

This is a voluntary program. If you choose to enroll you must make monthly make premium payments and earn at least $6,000 during the preceding year.

Self employed Canadians, including REALTORS® are not eligible to access “regular” EI benefits.

Thank you, CREA!

For information contact Services Canada at http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/ or 1.800.206.7218

Watch The Hon. Diane Finley, the Minister responsible for EI and David Salvatore, CREA’s Associate Director of External Relations talk about how REALTORS® can benefit from the government’s new program. Click here.