Mat leave eligibility for a home daycare provider in Ontario

[daycare_mom]

Thanks for the info. I'm so stressed out right now. I had a feeling since last few days that I might be pregnant, and that's why I started this thread today. Now guess what? I just took a test at home, and it is positive! I'm freaking out. Any word of encouragement for me??? Ughhhh...

Apparently being a self employed won't do much good at this time. How about if I join an agency? Are the rules still the same or does that count as an employment??? I'm so lost right now. Pls help.

[Inspired by Reggio]

....Apparently being a self employed won't do much good at this time. How about if I join an agency? Are the rules still the same or does that count as an employment??? I'm so lost right now. Pls help.

I would double check yourself but IME joining an agency will not help with the 'mat leave' income because technically you are still self employed as they just 'contract' your services ... when I was with an agency while I had to follow certain 'rules' in order to have them use my service I still maintained autonomy over the business and I had to take care of my own business expenses to come up with my net income to pay taxes ~ they just paid me a 'base amount' for my services per child they referred me if I had no children through them I got 'nothing' from them. If I took time off and did not care for a child who was referred through them ~ I got nothing from them ... no sick pay, no vacation pay, no EI or anything.

It could be different depending on the agency though?