Does anyone know if when you claim unemployment benefits in Canada, you can get housing allowance etc similarly like in the UK? I am about to start that journey from April, after 3 years working in Canada. I couldn't find anything on google and when I asked Service Canada people they seemed to lack of knowledge even when I asked them how much tax you take away from the weekly pay, they couldn't answer that. Any advice will be much appreciated cheers

Gosh NO the system in Canada does not favour those who are out of work.
Employment Insurance is for the people who have worked and contributed and its not huge around an average of $450 a month.
Rent is not paid.
Welfare is around $500 a month and is VERY hard to get, car value under $3000 and NO assets of any type and they do check.

This thread is about UK Should the Canada posts not be on the Canada Forum ?

For most people, the basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. As of January 1, 2018, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $51,700. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $547 per week.

You will need to have worked 700 hours before you would be entitled to any benefits.

The benefits would be covered for 14 weeks up to a maximum 45 weeks

Note : EI benefits are taxable, no matter what type of benefits you receive. Federal and provincial or territorial taxes, where applicable, will therefore be deducted from your payment.

Employment Insurance (EI) is detailed here.....https://www.canada.ca/en/services/be...it-amount.html

There appears to be quite a bit of variation between provinces and they don't appear to be forthcoming in terms of information. There's very little reliable and readily available information on it as there is in the UK. I believe Ontario is more forthcoming in terms of availability of information.

'Welfare' (Social Assistance) rates are low and very much a last resort. Last I saw in this province $1000 was the maximum asset allowance (money in bank) for a single person. And life insurance may count too. Rather than rent money, you may get subsidised housing a few years down the line. In the meantime a rooming house would be an option.

If you had enough money in the bank to take care of your rent for a few months that would be an asset that would likely disqualify you.

Basically it is something to be avoided and not relied upon.

You should be able to find something online if you focus a search on your province using words such as "social assistance" or "income assistance" "payer of last resort" etc

Qualifying hour depend where you life. It can be up to 900 and as low as 400 in high unemployment areas.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/be...r-benefit.html < Employment Insurance (unemployment benefit equivalent)
https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/ > Social Assistance (Welfare - a last resort if you have no assets and little or no income)

The benefits finder may be of use http://www.canadabenefits.gc.ca/[email protected]?lang=eng

As others have said, there is no 'rent allowance' as such, for the unemployed although social assistance does include a percentage towards it. You have to be virtually destitute to get it and any EI you get is contra'd (and may even take you above the threshold). You can see the amounts payable (for example, Toronto) here: https://www.toronto.ca/community-peo...o-works-rates/ or for Nova Scotia, here: https://novascotia.ca/coms/employmen...ssistance.html

Sorry to hear you will shortly be in that unfortunate positions, it must be a worrying time for you.

OP, you pose an interesting question considering from a post made by you in November 2015 that you have been living & working in Canada since August 2015, which make me guess that you likely already know the answer?

http://britishexpats.com/forum/immig.../#post11786542

Do let us know?

I just knew it would be easier to find such things for Ontario, although it's still very much in general terms. You can see the rate for a single person, for example, but there's nothing about how much they will physically receive because of matters relating to family.


I see you can even apply online - albeit an interview is still needed.

Imagine if all that was demanded in the UK
(Sometimes, some of it, is needed for some people but only for some things in exceptional cases or where the applicant pays rent.)

In Canada it's essential (despite how often "privacy laws" are cited) and in at least this province it's not just family members that this is asked of.

She's already stated above that she's been working in Canada for 3 years? She's asked about what she's eligible for after that time working in Canada, from April onwards - presumably she's about to be made redundant or similar.

OP, hope you can find something else soon.

Basically the same in BC except they do it all online and over the phone.

Max rate is 335 and max housing assistance of 375.

You have to provide all info about you and anyone you live with.

Provide bank statements etc.

They also do a property search to see if you own any property you could sell.

They do a credit check to see if you have any available credit.


You basically have to be destitiute with 0 left and no access to other sources of income such as EI or CPP.

It seems to me that, if one wishes others to assist them with their living expenses when they have fallen upon hard times, such information would be reasonably expected and would be given without complaint, would it not?

Well that depends. How would you feel if it was your information requested of the other person who may be family or anyone else unrelated to you in the same house.

You'd think nothing of providing your wage slips, bank statements, life insurance documents, SIN, etc for someone else to apply?

Transport Canada wanted my ex spouses info when I applied for a restricted area pass.

Lets just say the ex was not pleased with me emailing to ask her.

Cannot recall BC asking for info about anyone else for assistance other then my landlord info to verify I was living there.

Just to clarify, this is other people in the same household as opposed to others in the same building.

In NB they want to know about anyone in the same house. Your sister, your uncle, your father in law, grandfather, your brother's spouse, your son's homeless friend sleeping on the sofa, your mate just separated from his wife that you are putting up.....

Your post in response said the same in BC "You have to provide all info about you and anyone you live with."

Did you just mean partner, kids etc and not those I mentioned?

Here's the way NB puts it.
I find it incredible how they dress up expecting someone in the household - no matter that there's no relationship nor liability (moral or legal) - to take financial responsibility as something non discriminatory.