Evaluation of the Employment Insurance Special Benefits for Self-employed Workers : Évaluation des prestations spéciales de l'assurance-emploi pour les travailleurs autonomes : rapport final

The need for the SBSE measure The need for income support for the types of life events covered by the SBSE is underscored by the number of countries that provide such benefits. [...] However, the design of the SBSE is such that the onus is on the individual to report earnings as specified in the agreement. [...] The inherent challenge to the integrity of the SBSE is in the nature of self-employment: the self-employed have greater control over their work schedules and they can be better positioned than wage-earners to arrange the timing of their income. [...] Recommendation As a result of the evaluation findings, the recommendation is to continue to develop understanding of the needs of the diverse self-employed population as they relate to: . The income support provided by the SBSE; . The design of the measure and other potential approaches; and . Awareness of the measure. [...] Factors influencing the decision to opt in The evaluation identifies several issues that may contribute to the low take-up of the measure including: the specific nature of self-employed work, the voluntary nature of the measure, and the specific program parameters.