Guide

Employer Bankruptcy: Claim Unpaid Wages Through the Wage Earner Protection Program

Coordinate with the trustee and Service Canada, confirm eligibility and apply within the prescribed 56-day period.

A closure is not always enough. The Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) applies to certain formal bankruptcies, receiverships and qualifying insolvency proceedings. A business that merely stops operating without a recognized proceeding may require another recourse.

Contact the trustee or receiver

Obtain the name, file number and proof-of-claim instructions. Provide requested records for wages, vacation pay, termination or severance pay and eligible expenses. The trustee supplies information needed for the WEPP application.

Meet the application deadline

Service Canada specifies a 56-day filing period. A late application must explain the delay, and only limited circumstances beyond your control may be accepted. Apply as soon as the required information is available and retain confirmation.

Prepare evidence

Collect the contract, pay stubs, time records, record of employment, termination notice, bank statements and your calculation of amounts owed. Compare your figures with the trustee's information and report an error promptly.

Parallel steps

WEPP does not automatically replace Employment Insurance, a CNESST complaint, a claim in the insolvency or a union grievance. File relevant applications separately and report amounts received correctly to avoid an overpayment.

Wage Earner Protection Program — Canada.ca · Before applying

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Official sources are linked in the guide. Reviewed August 29, 2026; confirm current instructions and deadlines with the responsible authority.

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