441-01794 (Social affairs and equality)

The loss of a child is an extremely sad and difficult time for families and the Government of Canada provides support to families caring for their sick or injured child, or who find themselves in this very tragic situation of having lost a child, through various programs. For example:

• Employment Insurance (EI) family caregiver benefits for children provide up to 35 weeks of income support to workers who are unable to work to take care of a child who is critically ill or injured;
• EI compassionate care benefits provide up to 26 weeks of income support to workers who are unable to work when they have to take care of a person who requires end-of-life care;
• EI sickness benefits are available to eligible parents when they are unable to work due to emotional or psychological distress, including grieving, and is available for up to 26 weeks when they need time off work following the death of their child; and
• EI maternity benefits continue to be payable following the loss of a child, as they are designed to support a birth mother’s physical and emotional recovery for up to 15 weeks surrounding childbirth.

The Government of Canada also provides support through the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime for parents or legal guardians who have taken time away from work and suffered a loss of income to cope with the death or disappearance of their child or children. The benefit provides eligible parents with payments of $500 per week, paid every 2 weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks, which do not have to be consecutive, over a period of 3 years.