Enhancements to compassionate care benefits announced

Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, along with Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, on behalf of the Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, highlighted increased financial support proposed for individuals taking care of family members facing a significant risk of death.

Compassionate care benefits, which are provided through the Employment Insurance (EI) program, are available to individuals temporarily away from work to care for a sick family member with a significant risk of death. Effective January 3, 2016, the proposed enhanced benefit will allow claimants to collect up to 26 weeks of benefits, up from the current 6 weeks. The benefits can also be taken within an expanded period of 52 weeks (up from 26 weeks) and can be shared between family members.

The enhancements being made to compassionate care benefits through Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2015 reaffirm the Government’s commitment to helping families receive the support they need as they care for loved ones at end-of-life.

The announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
“Our Government understands the difficult challenges faced by Canadian families when they are caring for loved ones. We are working with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to facilitate progress in palliative care services for those with life-threatening illnesses. The investments we are making in palliative care research, training, and integrated models of care, together with provincial, territorial and stakeholder initiatives, can lead to improvements in end-of-life care, and help meet the future care preferences of Canadians.,” said Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health