Hello,
I've read through all the entries + replies to find answers I need, as well as Service Can's website, but I still have questions and would really like someone's help.
My Q's relate to 2 areas -
1) P/t self-employment allowed while conducting a F/T job search - is it? + how do I prove it's tiny + doesn't interfere w/ F/T availability
2) Converting sickness benefits to regular benefits - help to understand time frame in between for eligibility.
If it's too much to answer in one go, tell me and I'll re-post these questions separately
esp. if separate posts would help others locate info they seek as well
Here's my situation:
I received maximum illness benefits, payments ended several weeks before I got well. I recovered close to the date my Doctor's letter had indicated to EI I would. (Medical form on file has a return to work date). But understandably my employer ended up fully training and keeping the person they hired to temporarily replace me. Fair enough.
My availability to work again came several weeks after payments for sickness benefits stopped. Due to this timing I assumed I was ineligible for regular benefits, so I didn't apply to convert my claim to regular EI.
I looked for f/t work but needed something to see me through during my search, and I started a few hours a week (mostly on weekends) self-employed work of odd jobs and yard work. I did no advertising for this, tiny start-up cost, and spent no time gathering new business - word of mouth only. My focus was looking f/t for a job, though I have not landed it yet.
Q 1) - Is P/t self-employment allowed while conducting a F/T job search
Does Service Can always look upon Self-Employment as F/T (and therefore unavailable for f/t work)? If I can demonstrate that my earnings from self-employment are tiny (not an amount I could normally live on), which is true, will that be acceptable?
Though I didn't apply to transfer sickness benefits to regular ones, in hindsight I think I've been fulfilling my requirements, so maybe I could apply now while there's still a few weeks left on the claim. I would have to dig back in my phone and email records etc. if the govt needs a list of all the prospective employers I've contacted to prove my job search activities. I thought I would find work quickly and wouldn't ever need regular EI.
Q 2) - Converting sickness benefits to regular benefits - help to understand time frame in between for eligibility.
Was I wrong to assume I was/am ineligible ? (to convert sickness to regular after recovering) What I assume Service Can's fine print means includes the stipulation that a medical benefits recipient who recovers must "recover on or before" the end date of claim - i.e. not have a lapse of time, between getting sickness ben and regular ones. Any insight into the interpretation of this rule would be helpful.
Rummaging through old printouts from my serv can acct, I found my end of benefit date, which is fast approaching. I really could use some money support to get me through til a job comes - if I am eligible for more EI - so I'm seeking advice on whether it seems reasonable to try for it, to prevent losing the weeks remaining on my claim.
Q 3) - Can I apply for past or current entitlement now ? To not lose those weeks - and if so, will I have to pay it back as soon as I land my F/T job?
I am so grateful for your time in reading this
Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Thank you
I've read through all the entries + replies to find answers I need, as well as Service Can's website, but I still have questions and would really like someone's help.
My Q's relate to 2 areas -
1) P/t self-employment allowed while conducting a F/T job search - is it? + how do I prove it's tiny + doesn't interfere w/ F/T availability
2) Converting sickness benefits to regular benefits - help to understand time frame in between for eligibility.
If it's too much to answer in one go, tell me and I'll re-post these questions separately
esp. if separate posts would help others locate info they seek as well
Here's my situation:
I received maximum illness benefits, payments ended several weeks before I got well. I recovered close to the date my Doctor's letter had indicated to EI I would. (Medical form on file has a return to work date). But understandably my employer ended up fully training and keeping the person they hired to temporarily replace me. Fair enough.
My availability to work again came several weeks after payments for sickness benefits stopped. Due to this timing I assumed I was ineligible for regular benefits, so I didn't apply to convert my claim to regular EI.
I looked for f/t work but needed something to see me through during my search, and I started a few hours a week (mostly on weekends) self-employed work of odd jobs and yard work. I did no advertising for this, tiny start-up cost, and spent no time gathering new business - word of mouth only. My focus was looking f/t for a job, though I have not landed it yet.
Q 1) - Is P/t self-employment allowed while conducting a F/T job search
Does Service Can always look upon Self-Employment as F/T (and therefore unavailable for f/t work)? If I can demonstrate that my earnings from self-employment are tiny (not an amount I could normally live on), which is true, will that be acceptable?
Though I didn't apply to transfer sickness benefits to regular ones, in hindsight I think I've been fulfilling my requirements, so maybe I could apply now while there's still a few weeks left on the claim. I would have to dig back in my phone and email records etc. if the govt needs a list of all the prospective employers I've contacted to prove my job search activities. I thought I would find work quickly and wouldn't ever need regular EI.
Q 2) - Converting sickness benefits to regular benefits - help to understand time frame in between for eligibility.
Was I wrong to assume I was/am ineligible ? (to convert sickness to regular after recovering) What I assume Service Can's fine print means includes the stipulation that a medical benefits recipient who recovers must "recover on or before" the end date of claim - i.e. not have a lapse of time, between getting sickness ben and regular ones. Any insight into the interpretation of this rule would be helpful.
Rummaging through old printouts from my serv can acct, I found my end of benefit date, which is fast approaching. I really could use some money support to get me through til a job comes - if I am eligible for more EI - so I'm seeking advice on whether it seems reasonable to try for it, to prevent losing the weeks remaining on my claim.
Q 3) - Can I apply for past or current entitlement now ? To not lose those weeks - and if so, will I have to pay it back as soon as I land my F/T job?
I am so grateful for your time in reading this
Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Thank you
