Doctor's note for EI sickness benefits in Canada: what you actually need (2026)
- Sohaib Mehmood
- May 12
- 7 min read
Most Canadians applying for EI sickness benefits run into the same problem. They fill out the Service Canada application, get their Record of Employment from their employer, and then stall on the medical documentation step because nobody told them exactly what is required, how specific it needs to be, or how quickly they need it. Some people submit without any documentation and get approved. Others submit without it and get delayed for weeks. A few get rejected and do not know why.
This post covers what Service Canada actually requires, when you need to provide it, what the medical certificate needs to say, and how to get one without spending a day in a waiting room at a time when you are already unwell and dealing with enough.
What EI sickness benefits are and who qualifies in 2026
EI sickness benefits are a federal income replacement program administered by Service Canada for Canadians who cannot work because of illness, injury, or quarantine. The program pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings up to a maximum weekly amount set each year. As of 2025, the maximum insurable earnings cap is $65,700 annually, which works out to a maximum weekly benefit of $695. Benefits run for up to 26 weeks — extended from 15 weeks in September 2022 under changes to the Employment Insurance Act.
To qualify, you need to have accumulated at least 600 insurable hours worked in the last 52 weeks or since your last EI claim, whichever is shorter. Insurable hours are hours worked for an employer who deducts EI premiums from your paycheque. Self-employed Canadians who have voluntarily enrolled in the EI self-employment program may also qualify. If you have been in and out of part-time work, seasonal work, or have recently changed employers, it is worth checking your total insurable hours before assuming you do not qualify — many people who think they are ineligible actually have enough hours when they add them up across multiple employers in the same period.
There is a one-week waiting period at the start of every EI claim. You do not receive benefits for that first week. Some employers top up EI sickness benefits during the waiting period under their sick leave policy — check your employment contract or collective agreement to see if this applies to you.
Doctor's note EI sickness benefits Canada: Does Service Canada require a doctor's note for EI sickness benefits?
Yes you require doctor's note EI sickness benefits Canada — but with nuance that most guides skip over.
Service Canada does not require a doctor's note at the time you submit your EI application. You can and should apply as soon as you stop working, even if you do not have your medical documentation ready. Delaying your application while waiting for a medical certificate costs you money — the one-week waiting period starts from the week you apply, so every week you wait is a week of benefits you lose. Apply first, then get the documentation.
That said, Service Canada can request a medical certificate at any point during the processing of your claim or during the benefit period itself. If they request it and you do not provide it within the timeframe given, your claim can be delayed or stopped. The form they typically use is the INS5140 Medical Certificate — a standard Service Canada document that a physician fills out confirming you are unable to work. Some claims are processed and paid without the form ever being requested. Others are flagged for documentation early in the process. There is no reliable way to predict which category your claim will fall into, which is why having your documentation ready before your claim is processed is better than waiting to be asked.
The medical certificate for an EI claim needs to confirm that you have a medical condition that prevents you from working, the start date of your inability to work, and the expected duration of your incapacity or a statement that the duration is not yet determinable. It does not need to disclose your specific diagnosis to Service Canada unless the nature of your condition is directly relevant to determining the duration of the claim. A physician-signed document on official letterhead stating that you are medically unable to perform your occupational duties from a given date is sufficient for the large majority of EI sickness benefit applications.
The Service Canada INS5140 form: what it is and when you need it
The INS5140 is the standard Medical Certificate for Employment Insurance Purposes. It is a one-page form that a physician completes on your behalf. Service Canada sends it to claimants who are asked to provide documentation, and it can also be downloaded directly from the Government of Canada website and brought to a physician appointment proactively.
The form asks the physician to confirm the following: the nature of the medical condition in general terms, the date your medical condition started, whether you are able to work, the expected date you will be able to return to work or a statement that this cannot yet be determined, and whether the condition is related to an injury at work. The physician signs and dates the form and provides their license number.
If you want to move your claim along quickly rather than wait to be asked, downloading the INS5140 and having it completed by a physician before you submit your application is the most efficient path. Canada Medical Notes physicians complete the INS5140 and equivalent medical documentation for EI sickness benefit applications as part of our medical certificates service. You submit your details, the physician completes the form, and you receive it in your inbox within 2 to 4 hours — ready to attach to your Service Canada application or provide when requested.
What happens to your EI claim if your doctor's note is missing or incomplete
Service Canada processes thousands of EI sickness claims and their reviewers look for specific information on the medical documentation. Incomplete or vague documentation is one of the most common reasons EI sickness claims are delayed rather than rejected outright.
If the medical certificate does not include a start date for your incapacity, Service Canada may go back to your employer's Record of Employment to establish the timeline, which can delay payment by one to three weeks. If the certificate does not specify an expected return-to-work date or note that the duration is undetermined, Service Canada may approve only a short initial period and require updated documentation before releasing further payments. If the documentation is missing entirely when Service Canada requests it and you do not respond within the deadline given, your claim can be suspended.
None of these scenarios result in a permanent rejection in most cases — they result in delays. But when you are off work due to illness and relying on EI as income replacement, a two or three week delay in payment is a real problem. Getting complete, properly formatted documentation from a licensed physician upfront removes the most common causes of those delays.
EI sickness benefits and short-term disability: how they interact
Many Canadians have access to both EI sickness benefits through the federal government and short-term disability benefits through their employer's group benefits plan. Understanding how they interact saves you from leaving money on the table or accidentally creating a repayment obligation.
Short-term disability through an employer plan typically kicks in after a waiting period of five to seven business days. It pays a percentage of your salary — usually 60 to 70 percent — for up to 17 weeks depending on the plan. Most employer STD plans are set up so that they run concurrently with or offset EI sickness benefits. If your employer's plan pays you 70% of your salary during your disability period, and EI would pay you 55% of insurable earnings, you typically cannot collect both in full — the employer plan payment usually satisfies the EI benefit, and Service Canada may treat the employer payments as "top up" or offset against what EI would pay.
The specific interaction depends on how your employer's plan is structured. Some plans are designed to top up EI to a full salary equivalent. Others are standalone and trigger a repayment obligation to EI. Before applying for EI sickness benefits while also receiving employer STD payments, confirm with your HR department or group benefits provider how the two interact under your specific plan. If your employer does not offer STD and EI sickness benefits are your only source of income replacement, the application process is more straightforward — your medical certificate is the primary documentation Service Canada needs.
If your employer has sent you a specific STD physician's statement form to complete rather than or in addition to the Service Canada INS5140, that is handled through our standard medical forms service. If your situation involves a return-to-work clearance after your EI sickness period ends, see our sick leave notes and medical certificates pages for the documentation your employer will require when you return.
Frequently asked questions about doctor's notes and EI sickness benefits
Do I need a doctor's note before I apply for EI sickness benefits?
No. Apply as soon as you stop working. You can provide medical documentation after your application is submitted. Delaying your application while waiting for a note costs you time and money because the one-week waiting period starts from when you apply.
What is the medical certificate EI form called?
The standard form is the INS5140 Medical Certificate for Employment Insurance Purposes. It is available on the Government of Canada website and can be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or other regulated health professional depending on your condition.
Can a nurse practitioner fill out my EI medical certificate?
Yes. Service Canada accepts medical certificates completed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and in some cases psychologists and other regulated health professionals, depending on the nature of the condition being certified.
How long does it take to get EI sickness benefits after applying?
Service Canada targets a processing time of 28 days from the date they receive your application and all required documentation. In practice, claims with complete documentation including the ROE and medical certificate tend to be processed faster than those where Service Canada has to follow up for missing documents.
Can I get a doctor's note for EI sickness benefits online?
Yes. Canada Medical Notes connects you with a licensed Canadian physician who can complete your EI medical documentation online and deliver it to your inbox within 2 to 4 hours. The completed certificate includes the physician's full name, provincial license number, date of assessment, and all fields required by Service Canada.
What if my condition is mental health related — does EI still require a medical certificate?Yes. Mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress disorders are valid medical reasons for EI sickness benefits, and the documentation requirements are the same as for physical health conditions. The certificate confirms incapacity without requiring disclosure of your specific diagnosis.
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