Does Vacation Pay Affect EI Benefits?

By Michael Ferguson

When you are receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in Canada, it is important to understand how various types of income and payments can impact your eligibility and the amount of your benefits. One common question that many people have is whether vacation pay affects EI benefits. In this article, we will explore this issue in depth.

What is Vacation Pay?

Before we dive into the impact of vacation pay on EI benefits, let’s first define what vacation pay is. Vacation pay is a type of income that an employee receives in lieu of taking time off work for a vacation. This pay is usually calculated as a percentage of the employee’s wages and is paid out either at the time the employee takes their vacation or at another agreed-upon time.

How Does Vacation Pay Impact EI Benefits?

The short answer to this question is that yes, vacation pay can affect your EI benefits. This is because EI benefits are calculated based on your insurable earnings, which include any income you receive from employment during the period for which you are seeking benefits.

When you receive vacation pay from your employer, it counts as insurable earnings and must be reported when you apply for EI benefits. The amount of vacation pay you received will be taken into account when calculating your weekly benefit amount and may reduce the amount you are eligible to receive.

Example:

Suppose you were laid off from your job and are eligible for EI benefits. Your average weekly insurable earnings were $800 per week, and your weekly benefit rate is calculated at 55% of this amount, which equals $440 per week.

However, during one week of your four-week benefit period, you received $400 in vacation pay from your employer. This means that when calculating your weekly benefit amount for that period, the government will deduct the $400 in vacation pay from your insurable earnings before applying the 55% benefit rate.

Instead of receiving $440 per week, you will receive $360 per week for that period. This reduction in benefits is due to the fact that you received additional income from your employer during that period, which is considered when calculating your EI benefits.

Conclusion

In summary, vacation pay can affect your EI benefits by reducing the amount you are eligible to receive. When applying for EI benefits, it is important to report any income you receive from employment, including vacation pay. Failure to do so could result in penalties or even criminal charges.

By understanding how vacation pay and other types of income can impact your EI benefits, you can ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of support during periods of unemployment. If you have any questions or concerns about your EI benefits, don’t hesitate to contact Service Canada for assistance.