EI Section 25 — Extended EI Training Benefits (Federal)
$ 0
Continued EI benefits while in approved training (~55% of prior insurable earnings, up to annual max)
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Government of Canada — Employment and Social Development Canada · National
EI Section 25 — Extended EI Training Benefits (Federal)
Reviewed by G Paul · verified May 1, 2026
About this award
EI Section 25 lets you keep your Employment Insurance benefits while attending an approved training program — it's not a cash grant on top of EI, it's the legal authority that lets EI keep paying while you retrain. Critical for laid-off workers needing time to upgrade skills.
Section 25 of the federal Employment Insurance Act is one of the most important — and least-known — supports for laid-off workers retraining for a new field. It's not a separate grant or scholarship; it's the legal mechanism that allows you to keep receiving regular EI benefits (typically 55% of your prior insurable earnings, up to the annual maximum) while you attend an approved training program. Without Section 25, attending school full-time would normally end your EI eligibility (because you wouldn't be 'available for work'). With a Section 25 referral, you can attend training full-time and EI continues paying — bridging your income while you upgrade. The referral comes from your provincial training authority (in Ontario, Employment Ontario; in BC, WorkBC; in Quebec, Service Québec; etc.), which confirms that your chosen program is recognized for EI continuity purposes. Eligible programs include short-term skills training (cybersecurity, cloud certifications, healthcare bridging), micro-credential programs, longer college diplomas, and apprenticeship technical-training periods. Section 25 stacks naturally with other supports: provincial retraining grants like Better Jobs Ontario provide the tuition coverage; EI Section 25 provides the income continuity. Together they make full-time retraining financially viable without taking on debt.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or Protected Person — citizenship requirement
- Trades, Professional, Certificate — study level
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Collect reference letters2 weeks
Give your referees at least two weeks' notice and share your résumé.
Submit before the posted deadline~1 hour
Check the official source for the current deadline: save a copy and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
Strategy
Apply for EI as soon as you're laid off — the standard EI claim is the foundation; the Section 25 referral comes alongside it.
Strategy
Contact your provincial training authority (Employment Ontario, WorkBC, etc.) early — getting the referral can take weeks, and you don't want a gap between EI starting and your training program beginning.
Strategy
Stack EI Section 25 with provincial retraining grants: in Ontario, the Better Jobs Ontario program covers tuition + living allowance, and EI Section 25 layers on income continuity from your prior insurable earnings.
Strategy
Keep the bi-weekly EI reporting current while in training — failure to report (even when nothing has changed) suspends benefits.
Strategy
Quebec residents are covered by parallel federal-provincial arrangements administered through Service Québec; the underlying mechanism is the same.
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How do I apply?
Click the Start application button above: it opens the official application page in a new tab.
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When is the deadline?
The provider has not posted a firm deadline. Check the official source before applying.
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Can international students apply?
Eligibility is limited to: Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, Protected Person.
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