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

[Orpheus]

I have a question about total insurable hours and total insurable earnings.

My GF's claim for regular benefits was recently approved after a 5 week wait. However, her claim shows lower figures for her total insurable hours and total insurable earnings than her ROE does. The ROE shows 2200 total insurable hours but the claim shows only 1800 hours. Similarly, her ROE has total insurable earnings that are about 10% higher than her claim shows.

What is the impact of lower total insurable hours and lower total insurable earnings? Does it reduce the weekly benefit rate? Does it reduce the weeks of regular entitlement (her claim shows 38 weeks of regular entitlement)?

Thanks.

[Electricute]

a couple of questions regarding attending part time school,

1. on http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e...ing.shtml#need it asks that "Are all of your courses below the university level?". If I am going to do part time masters degree while looking for job, does that disqualify me from getting EI?

2. If say I am done the courses in 4 month, there still were time left on my EI application, can I re-activate again while looking for a job or is that not allowed?

3. If I leave Canada while I am on EI, do I only need to give back the benefits received on the days I am not in the country? or they count entire weeks?

thx.

1. you'll prob have to fill out a training questionaire which will ask you how many hows u spend on studying and class time, also if you would leave training course for a full time job, as i would assume its unliky u would leave, i would say yes taking your masters would disqulify u from collecting EI

2. yes u will likely been disentitleed for the time that you are in school, once u become availabe and are willing to take a new job, then u can collect the remiaing time left on your claim

3. u are not payable for the days that you are outside the country, and u should let them know first so that you aren't paid out and have to give it back, they simply reduce your payment by the number of days outside

I have a question about total insurable hours and total insurable earnings.

My GF's claim for regular benefits was recently approved after a 5 week wait. However, her claim shows lower figures for her total insurable hours and total insurable earnings than her ROE does. The ROE shows 2200 total insurable hours but the claim shows only 1800 hours. Similarly, her ROE has total insurable earnings that are about 10% higher than her claim shows.

What is the impact of lower total insurable hours and lower total insurable earnings? Does it reduce the weekly benefit rate? Does it reduce the weeks of regular entitlement (her claim shows 38 weeks of regular entitlement)?

Thanks.

1800ish is the max u need for the max number of weeks, anything more than that doesn't matter so on the online form it will show 1800. the benefit rate on the ROE covers the last 14 pay period for bi-weekly payments, whereas EI only looks back 26 weeks (13 pay periods). 14 is written so that they have a buffer to work with. total insurable earnings affects the benefit rate. it's 55% of your average weekly earnings before tax.

[b166er1337]

I have a question about total insurable hours and total insurable earnings.

My GF's claim for regular benefits was recently approved after a 5 week wait. However, her claim shows lower figures for her total insurable hours and total insurable earnings than her ROE does. The ROE shows 2200 total insurable hours but the claim shows only 1800 hours. Similarly, her ROE has total insurable earnings that are about 10% higher than her claim shows.

What is the impact of lower total insurable hours and lower total insurable earnings? Does it reduce the weekly benefit rate? Does it reduce the weeks of regular entitlement (her claim shows 38 weeks of regular entitlement)?

Thanks.

1820 is the max insurable hours.

[b166er1337]

a couple of questions regarding attending part time school,

1. on http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e...ing.shtml#need it asks that "Are all of your courses below the university level?". If I am going to do part time masters degree while looking for job, does that disqualify me from getting EI?

2. If say I am done the courses in 4 month, there still were time left on my EI application, can I re-activate again while looking for a job or is that not allowed?

3. If I leave Canada while I am on EI, do I only need to give back the benefits received on the days I am not in the country? or they count entire weeks?

thx.

1) if it is just part time studies at night, I can't imagine your availability will be denied.

2) for availability, yes, if your initial availability is denied and circumstance changes (such as finish school), you can re-apply.

3) When you are outside of Canada, you don't get paid for EI most of the time.

[Croatia838]

Hello and thanks in advance for answering the question.

1) I was recently laid off.

2) looking to sign up with a firm to be an investment advisor ( i just finished all of my courses)

3) Once signed up there is a mandatory 90 day training period when i cannot write any business, therefore I cannot earn a paycheque. I am considered self employed for this position, i.e. starting a business.


Am I eligible for E.I.?

[b166er1337]

Hello and thanks in advance for answering the question.

1) I was recently laid off.

2) looking to sign up with a firm to be an investment advisor ( i just finished all of my courses)

3) Once signed up there is a mandatory 90 day training period when i cannot write any business, therefore I cannot earn a paycheque. I am considered self employed for this position, i.e. starting a business.


Am I eligible for E.I.?

Well, when you are actively looking for work, then yes you definitely qualify. However, once you sign up, you are no longer actively looking for work and even though you won't have an income for 90 days, you're considered not unemployed (double negative; which means you are employed), and hence, not eligible for EI benefits.

Think of it this way, if you accept an unpaid full time internship, you are fully occupied and not technically unemployed.

[Croatia838]

Well, when you are actively looking for work, then yes you definitely qualify. However, once you sign up, you are no longer actively looking for work and even though you won't have an income for 90 days, you're considered not unemployed (double negative; which means you are employed), and hence, not eligible for EI benefits.

Think of it this way, if you accept an unpaid full time internship, you are fully occupied and not technically unemployed.

ahhhh shucks, thank you kindly for the answer.

[canadian4evr]

I've been on EI for about 4-6 weeks and just accepted a job offer to start on the 23rd of July. When should I notify EI?

[Mr_A]

I went overseas on vacation late march this year and due to some visa issues I was not able to report back to work in time. My employer put me under 'Administrative Suspension without pay pending Investigation' since mid May and I just came back to Canada late July (almost 3 weeks ago). My Union has already filed for grievance late May as there was a violation of the collective agreement.

Now, I couldn't apply for EI while I was not in Canada. After I came back, I first setup my online account with Service Canada and then got the electronic ROE from my employer. The reason code is "K" and in the comments sections they have put "suspended". The matter is currently being investigated and there is no decision yet on it.

My question is that how about should I proceed to apply for EI in this situation?
- Should I take the suspension grievance letter with me to try to show that the suspension is invalid? Would it help ?
- Should I also take the antedate form with me in this situation ?

Please pardon me as this is the first time I am applying for EI and I am just in the phase of gathering information. Thanks in advance !

[Doe4087]

Hello I understand that you are allowed to take 3 university classes (9 hrs/week) while on ei. Can you also take one night class in addition to these daytime classes because you are not expected to be looking for work at night time (this would be 12 hrs per week in class but 3 hrs would be at night time)? I will be available for work during the day and will dorp my classes if a job comes up. Also I am on fishign ei which is seasonal so it is very difficult to find fishign jobs during the winter anyways... Also I will be gettign laid off in late august because a shortage of work and want to go to school fulltime for a semester (until december) but I need to be on ei from jan until march (when i start fishign again) How do I go about getting on ei in this scenario? Should I apply as soon as fishing ends and school starts or wait until decemeber when school ends?
Thanks

[u0dcameron]

Want to thank you again for all the advise you have given in regards to EI.

Back in March I claimed for compassionate care benefits as my daughter was hospitalized at birth. I got off compassionate care after receiving 3 weeks because I decided I would try and go back to work. I went back to work for 1 week and decided I needed to quit my job to look after my daughter and took parental leave. She was hospitalized from birth February 25th to the end of June 19th 2012 I now have 18 weeks left of parental benefits and now think I may need regular unemployment benefits to further my benefits because parental is only 35 weeks. My question is will I have trouble switching from parental to regular benefits and how many weeks is the maximum you can get for regular benefits? I understand that the 35 weeks will be deducted from the amount of weeks I could receive for regular benefits but I'm unsure of exactly how many weeks is the maximum for regular benefits. I can't access my service Canada at the moment to find how many insurable hours I had but I'm fairly certain I was at the max amount of hours so I believe I would receive the max amount of weeks.

Also will taking care of my daughter be considered just cause? What will I need to have to prove this if anything, they already have on file that I was on compassionate care for her which included the doctor signed papers saying she was at risk of death.

Lastly how soon should I call service Canada to see about getting switched from parental benefits to regular benefits I am currently in week 17 of 35 of my parental benefits.

[HellCat62]

I am currently on EI and want to know when my claim runs out. Is it the "End Date of Claim" under my current claim on the servicecanada site?

Also, I am finding it harder than anticipated to get a new job and need to know who I talk to about a possible extension if it comes to that. I saw something online for long tenured workers, and I read it as people that have worked for years and not abused the system might be eligible for this (I've worked 20 years and never used EI until now). Just looking for details....

[b166er1337]

I've been on EI for about 4-6 weeks and just accepted a job offer to start on the 23rd of July. When should I notify EI?

after you started, declare that you found a job on your claimant's report.

[b166er1337]

I went overseas on vacation late march this year and due to some visa issues I was not able to report back to work in time. My employer put me under 'Administrative Suspension without pay pending Investigation' since mid May and I just came back to Canada late July (almost 3 weeks ago). My Union has already filed for grievance late May as there was a violation of the collective agreement.

Now, I couldn't apply for EI while I was not in Canada. After I came back, I first setup my online account with Service Canada and then got the electronic ROE from my employer. The reason code is "K" and in the comments sections they have put "suspended". The matter is currently being investigated and there is no decision yet on it.

My question is that how about should I proceed to apply for EI in this situation?
- Should I take the suspension grievance letter with me to try to show that the suspension is invalid? Would it help ?
- Should I also take the antedate form with me in this situation ?

Please pardon me as this is the first time I am applying for EI and I am just in the phase of gathering information. Thanks in advance !

Well, any information that's to your advantage should be submitted to Service Canada. In essence, "suspension" is treated as any other "dismissal" case. Yes you should apply for antedate, even though you will not be able to receive benefits (if approved) while you are out of Canada.

[b166er1337]

Hello I understand that you are allowed to take 3 university classes (9 hrs/week) while on ei. Can you also take one night class in addition to these daytime classes because you are not expected to be looking for work at night time (this would be 12 hrs per week in class but 3 hrs would be at night time)? I will be available for work during the day and will dorp my classes if a job comes up. Also I am on fishign ei which is seasonal so it is very difficult to find fishign jobs during the winter anyways... Also I will be gettign laid off in late august because a shortage of work and want to go to school fulltime for a semester (until december) but I need to be on ei from jan until march (when i start fishign again) How do I go about getting on ei in this scenario? Should I apply as soon as fishing ends and school starts or wait until decemeber when school ends?
Thanks

Apply when your job finishes.