CanadaWhat happens to my employment insurance if I refuse a job offer while collecting benefits?
If you refuse a job offer while collecting Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in Canada, you may lose your benefits unless you had just cause for refusing — such as unsafe working conditions, wages significantly below industry standards, or the job being unsuitable for your skills or location.
What the Law Says
The Employment Insurance Act sets out when refusing a job offer affects your eligibility for benefits. A claimant must accept suitable employment when offered — failure to do so without just cause can result in disqualification.
Under the Employment Insurance Act, you are expected to be available for and actively seeking work while receiving benefits. This includes accepting suitable job offers. 'Suitable employment' considers factors like your previous earnings, skills, experience, location, and health.
If you refuse an offer of suitable employment without just cause, Service Canada may determine you are no longer available for work — which is a requirement to receive benefits. This can lead to a temporary or permanent loss of benefits, depending on the circumstances and whether it’s a repeated occurrence.
The law does not define 'just cause' exhaustively, but examples include: the job posing a serious health or safety risk, requiring you to relocate without reasonable notice or support, paying substantially less than the prevailing wage for similar work, or demanding duties far outside your training or physical capacity.
Statutory TextA claimant who has voluntarily left their employment is not disqualified from receiving benefits if they had just cause for doing so.
— Employment Insurance Act, s. 29 — Just cause for leaving employment
What to Do
Report any job offer to Service Canada within 7 days using your online account or by calling 1-800-206-7218.
If you plan to refuse the offer, document your reasons clearly — e.g., pay rate, commute time, safety concerns, mismatch with skills.
Contact Service Canada before refusing to discuss whether the job is considered 'suitable' and whether your reason qualifies as 'just cause'.
Keep records of the job posting, offer letter, your written refusal (if applicable), and any correspondence with Service Canada.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.