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The federal and provincial governments offer a certain level of income security if you have trouble finding work or if you lose your job.

If you have lost your job and have worked for a certain number of weeks, you may be able to get Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. Regular benefits are paid to people who have lost their job and want to return to work. You must be actively looking for work and be willing and able to do so at all times. You are not eligible, however, if you have quit your job. To apply for EI, visit your nearest Service Canada office. You’ll need a record of employment from your last employer that tells how long you worked and how much you earned. You may have more than one such record if you have worked at more than one job within the last 52 weeks or since your last claim.

Special EI benefits are also paid to people who are unable to work due to illness, inquiry, quarantine, pregnancy, or because they are caring for a baby or adopted child. For more details call 681-2599 or visit the Service Canada web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

If you are not eligible for EI, you may qualify for one of the two programs created to provide last-resort financial assistance for individuals and families whose income is unable to cover their basic needs. The Employment Assistance Program has since been replaced by the Social Solidarity Program and the Social Assistance Program.

For more information about these programs, please contact your local employment centre (Centre local d’emploi – CLE), call the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité social at 643-4721, or visit their web site at www.mess.gouv.qc.ca.

Also consult the FORT Program website for more details on the employment services they can provide.