Compassionate Care Benefits will be paid to workers who have to be away from work temporarily to take care of a member of their family who may be dead within 26 weeks (6 months).

All workers entitled to EI benefits will be eligible to apply for these new benefits for 6 weeks. According to the Ontario Employment Standards Amendment Act (Family Medical Leave), 2004, You will be provided up to eight weeks of job-protected leave within 26 weeks.

Before you receive compassionate care benefits, you will have to provide a medical certificate, and wait 2 weeks.

The right to take time off work under the Family Medical leave provisions of the ESA is not the same as the right to the payment of compassionate care benefits. You must apply separately for these benefits.