The Fairness for Self-Employed Act now allows self-employed persons access to EI special benefits on a voluntary basis; these benefits include:

• Maternity benefits - maximum 15 weeks, available to birth mothers,
• Parental / adoptive benefits - maximum 35 weeks, available to biological or adoptive parents while caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.  May be taken by either parent or shared between them,
• Sickness benefits - maximum 15 weeks, available to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine,
• Compassionate care benefits- maximum 6 weeks, available to persons who must be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with significant risk of death.