[Merged] Ask me anything about EI (Employment Insurance) Benefits!

[b166er1337]

Oh, also, do i just need to state my original delay in filing (ie filed in the fall instead of the spring), or does this request need any explanation why I need it changed, and the details about working a second job and how it's messed up? Or is a two scentence explanation why i filed in the fall?

Thanks!

You need to provide reasons for the delay, and if they are deemed to be good causes, then your antedate request will be approved. The onus of proof is on YOU to provide the reasons why you filed late. Obviously that means detailed explanation, not a two-sentence excuse.

[b166er1337]

I have a theoretical question, that I have never actually found a hard and fast answer to.

If someone works full time during the day, has more than enough available hours, and attends school part time either online or at night, how would this effect eligibility if they were to be laid off?

My understanding is the report focuses on being "able to work during normal hours" so you would not be lying if you checked yes to this. I do know that people who have seasonal jobs are able to collect while attending school, but how would it effect a regular, full time, permanent employee?

Since you already have a history of working full time while taking part time studies, you should be fine.

[scarface]

Thanks for the answer. I'm not in school anymore, but when I was I always wondered about that.

[gcg]

Can I still receive EI if i work on an unpaid internship position?

[l_architect]

Hi
I applied for E I the day I was laid off on Dec 19th 2011.
My ROE was submitted electronically on the 22nd of Dec.
I have not heard anything from E I and the Service Canada website tells me nothing except that my ROE was submitted.
I found the complaint number and phoned them a week ago. They said I would be contacted by an agent in 4 or 5 days and I was not.
I finally got thru to a person by calling the E I reporting number and pressing 0. The menu does not tell you to do this. WTF? They could not tell me anything other than my ROE was submitted on the 33nd of Dec, 2011, the 5th of Jan and the 12th of Jan 2012. How could this be?, I am sure my employer only sent it once.
They also told me that my application had been sent to an Edmonton office, but no agent had been assigned yet. I still have not heard anything. Is this the norm these days?
I still cannot find work and the bills are starting to pile up.
It seems like they are making it as difficult as possible to collect.
Any advice is gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

I was going through the same thing, I filed end of November and by mid January nothing had been updated! I finally got a hold of this number, and it was done within days.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ocs/index.shtml

[l_architect]

Since you already have a history of working full time while taking part time studies, you should be fine.

I had the same thing, and I was denied but once appealed I won and received EI.

[b166er1337]

Can I still receive EI if i work on an unpaid internship position?

Probably not, since you are not unemployed. Whether you are remunerated for your work is irrelevant.

Digest 4.5.1:

Even in cases where no remuneration is paid, one may be considered as working if there is, between the person performing the work and the person benefiting from it, a relationship that may be likened to or regarded in the same way as a contract of service.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e...0.shtml#a4_5_1

[snipperdaddy]

Hello! I am a resident of BC and applied for regular benifits. Just wondering what is the average processing time for a claim these days. When I handed in my ROE the lady said 4-6 weeks, but I'm reading of people waiting much longer. Thanks for your help!!

[b166er1337]

Hello! I am a resident of BC and applied for regular benifits. Just wondering what is the average processing time for a claim these days. When I handed in my ROE the lady said 4-6 weeks, but I'm reading of people waiting much longer. Thanks for your help!!

Depends if there is any error on your application, and also depend on your reason for separation. If everything is done correctly and the RFS is non-contentious (ie, layoff), your claim can be automated and processed within 3 weeks. If not, could be two months.

[screwedover]

Hi! So glad I came across this thread! Thank you for being available to answer questions about EI!

I have a dilemma that I hope you can help me out with.

I have been in the same company for 12 years (I have had 3 children since then, so I have been on maternity leave 3 times). For the first few years I was a supervisor, then grew with the company and am now a restaurant general manager, and have been for over 2 years now. I feel like I have been totally screwed over the past few months, and I will tell you why. I run a very busy restaurant, and I, as well as many other people, have said that I wouldnt be able to run the restaurant alone. I had 2 assistant managers quit and move to another city in August of 2011. Since then, I have trained supervisors, but currently only have 2 (I do have to add in that my supervisors really dont care about the place either, they just come and do what they are supposed to (if that)l and leave their shifts. Please keep in mind that I have 3 children. I am called on a daily basis, on my days off, sometimes 5-10 times on my days off, which I understand that I do run the restaurant. I have been asking them to get me an assistant manager since August, when my assistants quit. They keep on saying that they are trying. One of my bosses (who live in another city), said that he could send someone down to help me, but they are just not willing to do so). I am stressed, I was just put on 8 days off on illness (stress) until I could see my family doctor. I am on desperate work overload, and my bosses keep on adding the work, but no one to help. Even as I am on leave I am getting emails to get some reporting done!!!!! I was just on holidays, and they are breaking some pay laws (which I already went to the labour board). I just got my yearly review done, and since I am not doing a good job with the numbers, didnt get an increase (even though I am doing it all on my own!!--running shifts, managing the restaurant, scheduling, and the list goes on and on...), even though, on the same day, I got a bonus check for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The last quarter is obviously when I started doing everything on my own, when my assistants quit. I am totally at my whits end, I lose hair constantly, sick to my stomach when I even think about work, tired constantly, dont sleep hardly at all..... as well, as my family life is deteriorating (I have a 3 year old, which I dont even have time to potty train). I just scheduled myself a 44 hour week, and my boss emailed me saying I had to add 3 hours to my schedule (as my salary is based on 47.5 hours), but yet, worked the day before 8 hours for free. I really can not go back to the place after my stress leave...... if I quit am I entitled to anything??? Thank you for your time!!!

[Pointseeker]

Hi! So glad I came across this thread! Thank you for being available to answer questions about EI!

I have a dilemma that I hope you can help me out with.

I have been in the same company for 12 years (I have had 3 children since then, so I have been on maternity leave 3 times). For the first few years I was a supervisor, then grew with the company and am now a restaurant general manager, and have been for over 2 years now. I feel like I have been totally screwed over the past few months, and I will tell you why. I run a very busy restaurant, and I, as well as many other people, have said that I wouldnt be able to run the restaurant alone. I had 2 assistant managers quit and move to another city in August of 2011. Since then, I have trained supervisors, but currently only have 2 (I do have to add in that my supervisors really dont care about the place either, they just come and do what they are supposed to (if that)l and leave their shifts. Please keep in mind that I have 3 children. I am called on a daily basis, on my days off, sometimes 5-10 times on my days off, which I understand that I do run the restaurant. I have been asking them to get me an assistant manager since August, when my assistants quit. They keep on saying that they are trying. One of my bosses (who live in another city), said that he could send someone down to help me, but they are just not willing to do so). I am stressed, I was just put on 8 days off on illness (stress) until I could see my family doctor. I am on desperate work overload, and my bosses keep on adding the work, but no one to help. Even as I am on leave I am getting emails to get some reporting done!!!!! I was just on holidays, and they are breaking some pay laws (which I already went to the labour board). I just got my yearly review done, and since I am not doing a good job with the numbers, didnt get an increase (even though I am doing it all on my own!!--running shifts, managing the restaurant, scheduling, and the list goes on and on...), even though, on the same day, I got a bonus check for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The last quarter is obviously when I started doing everything on my own, when my assistants quit. I am totally at my whits end, I lose hair constantly, sick to my stomach when I even think about work, tired constantly, dont sleep hardly at all..... as well, as my family life is deteriorating (I have a 3 year old, which I dont even have time to potty train). I just scheduled myself a 44 hour week, and my boss emailed me saying I had to add 3 hours to my schedule (as my salary is based on 47.5 hours), but yet, worked the day before 8 hours for free. I really can not go back to the place after my stress leave...... if I quit am I entitled to anything??? Thank you for your time!!!

Other folks will respond to your EI question for sure.
I suggest you see someone that can assist you with your issues. My unqualified comment is why worry about it. Put in the hours your salary is based on (you did not indicated if it is written as such), and just do what the contract says. If you do what you agreed to do with the resources that they promised, the owners can not fire you with cause and probably will have to pay you a severance. I know its easy for me to say, but try that approach. You are prepared not to return anyways. What can happen to you? The worst is that you are laid off with severance and then go on EI and look for other opportunities. Good Luck

And the owners are SOBs

[b166er1337]

Hi! So glad I came across this thread! Thank you for being available to answer questions about EI!

I have a dilemma that I hope you can help me out with.

I have been in the same company for 12 years (I have had 3 children since then, so I have been on maternity leave 3 times). For the first few years I was a supervisor, then grew with the company and am now a restaurant general manager, and have been for over 2 years now. I feel like I have been totally screwed over the past few months, and I will tell you why. I run a very busy restaurant, and I, as well as many other people, have said that I wouldnt be able to run the restaurant alone. I had 2 assistant managers quit and move to another city in August of 2011. Since then, I have trained supervisors, but currently only have 2 (I do have to add in that my supervisors really dont care about the place either, they just come and do what they are supposed to (if that)l and leave their shifts. Please keep in mind that I have 3 children. I am called on a daily basis, on my days off, sometimes 5-10 times on my days off, which I understand that I do run the restaurant. I have been asking them to get me an assistant manager since August, when my assistants quit. They keep on saying that they are trying. One of my bosses (who live in another city), said that he could send someone down to help me, but they are just not willing to do so). I am stressed, I was just put on 8 days off on illness (stress) until I could see my family doctor. I am on desperate work overload, and my bosses keep on adding the work, but no one to help. Even as I am on leave I am getting emails to get some reporting done!!!!! I was just on holidays, and they are breaking some pay laws (which I already went to the labour board). I just got my yearly review done, and since I am not doing a good job with the numbers, didnt get an increase (even though I am doing it all on my own!!--running shifts, managing the restaurant, scheduling, and the list goes on and on...), even though, on the same day, I got a bonus check for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The last quarter is obviously when I started doing everything on my own, when my assistants quit. I am totally at my whits end, I lose hair constantly, sick to my stomach when I even think about work, tired constantly, dont sleep hardly at all..... as well, as my family life is deteriorating (I have a 3 year old, which I dont even have time to potty train). I just scheduled myself a 44 hour week, and my boss emailed me saying I had to add 3 hours to my schedule (as my salary is based on 47.5 hours), but yet, worked the day before 8 hours for free. I really can not go back to the place after my stress leave...... if I quit am I entitled to anything??? Thank you for your time!!!

While you're on stress leave, has your doctor advised you to quit? If yes, then take a look here: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e...ahealth_doctor

In addition, how many hours on average do you work each week? It seems it's a bit excessive that you are doing a job that should be done by two or three people. This section concerns with excessive overtime: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e...time_excessive.

Since you already discussed the issues numerous times with the employer and that you already requested a temporary leave of absence, there is not much else you can do to amend the situation. Your case will be very strong if you can obtain a doctor's note explicitly stating you should quit for the sake of your health.

[force18]

I have a question regarding someone I know.

They work seasonal work (road construction) and have been doing it for 30 yrs. Work the summer and apply for EI for winter and then return to their job when they get called. This year the same thing, but now the rep has told them that you have to fill in the sheet with names of the companies you have been applying for and if you dont do this she said she will stop the benefits. She said that you have to find a job in the same field until the old one is ready for you to work again. Is this true? The employer put down the month of return and his name and number for them to confirm everything. He has worked with this company for the last 10 years and before that one company in the same field for 20 years (just moved cities 10 years ago).

Yet, we have friends who work in the moving industry as packers who are only seasonal work and been at the same company 5-20 years and they don't need to fill in any forms about where they have been looking for work as they are returning to the same employer when work picks up again.

I am just curious on what the actual rules are with seasonal workers who are returning to the same company in 4-5 months from filling for ei.

Thanks for any help or advice.

[b166er1337]

I have a question regarding someone I know.

They work seasonal work (road construction) and have been doing it for 30 yrs. Work the summer and apply for EI for winter and then return to their job when they get called. This year the same thing, but now the rep has told them that you have to fill in the sheet with names of the companies you have been applying for and if you dont do this she said she will stop the benefits. She said that you have to find a job in the same field until the old one is ready for you to work again. Is this true? The employer put down the month of return and his name and number for them to confirm everything. He has worked with this company for the last 10 years and before that one company in the same field for 20 years (just moved cities 10 years ago).

Yet, we have friends who work in the moving industry as packers who are only seasonal work and been at the same company 5-20 years and they don't need to fill in any forms about where they have been looking for work as they are returning to the same employer when work picks up again.

I am just curious on what the actual rules are with seasonal workers who are returning to the same company in 4-5 months from filling for ei.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Regardless whether one is seasonal or not, you have to be actively looking for work & being available for work. If you are not looking for work, you are not available, it's as simple as that. Digest 10.8.3 states

Seasonal workers do not prove that they are available for work during the off-season if they impose restrictions which make their employment opportunities virtually non-existent at that time, if they simply resign themselves to being unemployed every year at that time or if they are not prepared to consider employment opportunities at premises other than with the seasonal employer.

[force18]

Thanks for the response and dont get me wrong I understand the rules, but just don't understand how come they are not mandatory or policed for everybody?

If 1 out of 10 people I know who work seasonal work and return to their same employer after winter have to fill out the list of places they are applying to why not the other 9? The other 9 fill out their ei thing every Sunday saying they are ready for work, but don't have to fill out and send in the forms of places they are looking at, but the other has been told over the phone if they dont send in the list she will stop their ei support.

I am just more curious how come it is not strictly enforced throughout everyone who applies?

Thanks again for your time just trying to get a clearer understanding haha