EI changes start Sunday

Changes to EI, allowing some recipients to keep more of their earnings from casual jobs, come into effect Sunday.

Under the new rules, claimants will keep half of every dollar they earn when they find temporary work. Currently, claimants keep the first $75, or 40 per cent, of their benefits, whichever is higher.

After that, they lose a dollar in benefits for every dollar earned.

Human Resources minister Diane Finley made the announcement in Ottawa.

"[With] the old rule...people had to calculate what 40 per cent of their benefit was, and then work to that point because beyond that it really wasn't worth it to work," Finley said.

"As of Sunday, they get to keep 50 cents on every dollar they make, right up until they go full time."

The changes will cost $74 million over two years.