Employment Insurance (EI) is a Canadian benefits program. Describing it as “Employment Insurance Australia” can wrongly suggest that Australian workers can claim Canadian EI simply because they lose work in Australia.
Check Canadian eligibility at the source
The Government of Canada’s EI benefits page explains its programs and application pathways. Eligibility depends on the relevant program and individual circumstances. Do not apply Canadian contribution or benefit rules to Australian employment.
Do not confuse benefits with insurance policies
Government income support, workers compensation and a private income protection policy are different arrangements. An insurance policy’s definition of a covered event, exclusions and waiting periods determines what it may pay. A label such as “employment insurance” does not establish cover for redundancy or unemployment.
Before relying on cover
Read the policy disclosure documents and ask the insurer to identify where the event you are concerned about is covered. For government support, use the relevant government service and its current eligibility assessment. If your situation involves Canada and Australia, seek advice appropriate to both jurisdictions.
For workplace injury obligations in an Australian business, see the state regulator links in our business insurance information. An enquiry through Cockatoo does not enrol you in a government program or put a policy in place.