EI Maximum Increases to $485 on January 1, 2012

Friday, November 18, 2011

Effective January 1, 2012, the maximum weekly Employment Insurance (EI) benefit will increase from $468 in 2011 to $485.

If your Short Term Disability (STD) plan pays a percentage of salary up to the EI maximum, or it pays a flat amount equal to the EI maximum, we will automatically update your plan to the new EI maximum amount.

This automatic update means that if your STD plan is registered with Canada’s EI premium reduction program, it continues to qualify for EI premium reductions.

Your January invoice will reflect the increased STD benefit amount. While your STD rate per $10 benefit is not changing, you will see an increase in premium as a result of the increased STD benefit amount.

If you have any questions about your STD plan, please contact your account manager. For more information on the changes to EI benefits, please contact the EI Premium Reduction Program toll free at 1 800 622 6232, or go to their website at www.servicecanada.gc.ca

Pacific Blue Cross has been British Columbia's leading benefits provider for over 70 years. Our comprehensive understanding of health care needs fuels our commitment to service. Together with BC Life, our subsidiary, we provide health, dental, life, disability and travel coverage for approx 1.5 million British Columbians through employee group plans and through individual plans for those who do not have coverage with their employer. Pacific Blue Cross and BC Life continue to respond to customers' needs in plan design, administration and technology.