Employment Insurance Act — E-5.6 10
Beginning of benefit period 10 (1) A benefit period begins on the later of (a) the Sunday of the week in which the interruption of earnings occurs, and (b) the Sunday of the week in which the initial claim for benefits is made. Length of benefit period (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (10) to (15) and section 24, the length of a benefit period is 52 weeks. Prior benefit period (3) Subject to a change or cancellation of a benefit period under this section, a benefit period shall not be established for the claimant if a prior benefit period has not ended. Late initial claims (4) An initial claim for benefits made after the day when the claimant was first qualified to make the claim shall be regarded as having been made on an earlier day if the claimant shows that the claimant qualified to receive benefits on the earlier day and that there was good cause for the delay throughout the period beginning on the earlier day and ending on the day when the initial claim was made. Other late claims (5) A claim for benefits, other than an initial claim for benefits, made after the time prescribed for making the claim shall be regarded as having been made on an earlier day if the claimant shows that there was good cause for the delay throughout the period beginning on the earlier day and ending on the day when the claim was made. Exception (5.1) A claim for benefits referred to in section 23.1 with respect to a family member shall not be regarded as having been made on an earlier day under subsection (4) or (5) if (a) at the time the claim is made, all benefits that may otherwise have been payable in relation to that claim have already been exhausted; (b) the beginning of the period referred to in subsection 23.1(4) has already been determined with respect to that family member and the claim would have the effect of moving the beginning of that period to an earlier date; or (c) the claim is made in any other circumstances set out in the regulations. Exception (5.2) A claim for benefits referred to in section 23.2 with respect to a critically ill child must not be regarded as having been made on an earlier day under subsection (4) or (5) if (a) at the time the claim is made, all benefits that may otherwise have been payable in relation to that claim have already been exhausted; (b) the beginning of the period referred to in subsection 23.2(3) has already been determined with respect to that child and the claim would have the effect of moving the beginning of that period to an earlier date; or (c) the claim is made in any other circumstances set out in the regulations. Exception (5.3) A claim for benefits referred to in section 23.3 with respect to a critically ill adult must not be regarded as having been made on an earlier day under subsection (4) or (5) if (a) at the time the claim is made, all benefits that may otherwise have been payable in relation to that claim have already been exhausted; (b) the beginning of the period referred to in subsection 23.3(3) has already been determined with respect to that adult and the claim would have the effect of moving the beginning of that period to an earlier date; or (c) the claim is made in any other circumstances set out in the regulations. Cancelling benefit period (6) Once a benefit period has been established for a claimant, the Commission may (a) cancel the benefit period if it has ended and no benefits were paid or payable during the period; or (b) whether or not the period has ended, cancel at the request of the claimant that portion of the benefit period immediately before the first week for which benefits were paid or payable, if the claimant (i) establishes under this Part, as an insured person, a new benefit period beginning the first week for which benefits were paid or payable or establishes, under Part VII.1, as a self-employed person within the meaning of subsection 152.01(1), a new benefit period beginning the first week for which benefits were paid or payable, and (