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

[extrax]

Can anyone explain more about this new 50 cents to the dollar earning thing?

[thefeebster]

Need some clarification on the vacation rules of EI. Background info: learned i'll be laid off as of Aug 31, have a trip planed from Nov-Mid Dec. I have about 15 days of vacation saved up that will be paid out. From what i can see googling this stuff, i can take the vacation but will not be able to collect the EI during this time. That's more than fair. Just wondering how you report this to them? I am new to this EI stuff and I'd like to tell them in advance and such. Is it on this questionnaire they send you or report you have to send in? I am not sure if i will have access to doing this when i am away. That's one of my concerns.

Also, will my vacation from Nov to Mid Dec be deducted from the total amount of time i would be able to collect EI? As in do i forfeit the EI for that month+half? Its fine if they do, but i'd just like to know in advance.

[Backstretch]

Hi, Thanks for the great information
I worked for a company for a number of years from which i retired from 3 years ago and have been collecting a regular monthly corporate pension ever since. I re-entered the workplace after a 2.5 year period and landed a job from which i was just layed-off from due to shortage of work. My insurable hours from this employment equalled 940 hours. From my research, even though i am collecting a pension from a former job, i am able to re-qualify for EI and in my case having been been out of work for greater than a 24 month period i would need 910 hours for which i have achieved. Is this true? Now when i fill out my cards for the 2 week period that straddles the first of the month (pension payment date) do i have to indicate that i received this payment? During my application process i did indicate that i am receiving a monthly pension. My understanding is this payment has no bearing in calculating my benefit amount>

[b166er1337]

Need some clarification on the vacation rules of EI. Background info: learned i'll be laid off as of Aug 31, have a trip planed from Nov-Mid Dec. I have about 15 days of vacation saved up that will be paid out. From what i can see googling this stuff, i can take the vacation but will not be able to collect the EI during this time. That's more than fair. Just wondering how you report this to them? I am new to this EI stuff and I'd like to tell them in advance and such. Is it on this questionnaire they send you or report you have to send in? I am not sure if i will have access to doing this when i am away. That's one of my concerns.

Also, will my vacation from Nov to Mid Dec be deducted from the total amount of time i would be able to collect EI? As in do i forfeit the EI for that month+half? Its fine if they do, but i'd just like to know in advance.

When you file your biweekly claimant's report, one of the question you have to answer is whether you have been out of Canada during the report period. Another question asks whether you are available for work. In your case, answer Yes to out of Canada and No to availability. You will have to phone the call centre to provide more details. That's it.

While you are out of Canada, you won't be able to collect EI benefits; it does not affect your total entitlement weeks in any shape or form.

[b166er1337]

Hi, Thanks for the great information
I worked for a company for a number of years from which i retired from 3 years ago and have been collecting a regular monthly corporate pension ever since. I re-entered the workplace after a 2.5 year period and landed a job from which i was just layed-off from due to shortage of work. My insurable hours from this employment equalled 940 hours. From my research, even though i am collecting a pension from a former job, i am able to re-qualify for EI and in my case having been been out of work for greater than a 24 month period i would need 910 hours for which i have achieved. Is this true? Now when i fill out my cards for the 2 week period that straddles the first of the month (pension payment date) do i have to indicate that i received this payment? During my application process i did indicate that i am receiving a monthly pension. My understanding is this payment has no bearing in calculating my benefit amount>

Exactly. You need 910 hours to qualify and your existing pension will not affect your calculation, nor your weekly EI benefit rate.

You should receive a letter explaining that you don't have to declare the pension income when you file your claimant's reports.

[stardustcross]

When you file your biweekly claimant's report, one of the question you have to answer is whether you have been out of Canada during the report period. Another question asks whether you are available for work. In your case, answer Yes to out of Canada and No to availability. You will have to phone the call centre to provide more details. That's it.

While you are out of Canada, you won't be able to collect EI benefits; it does not affect your total entitlement weeks in any shape or form.

Hey there, I was out of the country for 2 days and I have to phone in tomorrow. What kind of details are they looking for? I was there for leisure.
Also how on the spot do the departure hours have to be? I left Canada on the weekend, so that doesn't matter too much but I came back on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon... but I definitely don't remember when. Are they going to pro-rate the benefits for that day or something if I came back at like 12pm? I feel like to be on the safe side, I should just say I came back at night. -.-

[b166er1337]

Hey there, I was out of the country for 2 days and I have to phone in tomorrow. What kind of details are they looking for? I was there for leisure.
Also how on the spot do the departure hours have to be? I left Canada on the weekend, so that doesn't matter too much but I came back on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon... but I definitely don't remember when. Are they going to pro-rate the benefits for that day or something if I came back at like 12pm? I feel like to be on the safe side, I should just say I came back at night. -.-

There is nothing to be worried about really. Just be honest and tell them you're in US for leisure. There is no pro-rated benefit rate on a daily basis. Either you are available for work that day, or you aren't. If you come back in the afternoon, chances are you won't get benefit for that day.

[Backstretch]

Hi,
During the first week of my waiting period, i was in the U.S. from sunday to wednesday visiting friends. Yes, i was out of the country....i live in a border city and although i was out of the country i was only 35-40 minutes from home. I had my car, cellphone (in case an employer wished to contact me) and was ready, willing and able to work if contacted. How do i answer the questions? Thank you

[xosweetseduction]

Hello,

I am in need of a letter outlining what my EI goes towards as a part of my OSAP application. I've called them for this letter and it's been two months already and have yet to receive it. If I go into a Service Canada Centre do you think they can get me this letter more quickly? I'm just receiving maternity benefits, I'm not sure why the letter is taking so long.

[dealcatcher]

I'm planning to go to usa for a day trip on the weekend, do I need to give them a call?

[mariri]

hi again. This was your last reply to me http://forums.redflagdeals.com/merge.../#post14854358

so it's been two months of hell trying to get EI payments up and running again. i keep calling, never getting through. The last time i talked to them, they said that a decision was way overdue and i should call on thursday last week if i still hadn't had word.... well... they haven't picked up the phone since thursday. the line doesn't even let you stay on anymore, it just kicks you off, saying "we have too many people waiting to talk to an operator".

i'm going to the service canada office tomorrow because i am just so desperate right now.

what should i do if they still tell me no decision has been made? is there nothing i can do but wait? is this really normal??

it's been three times the amount of time they said it would be. i am drowning in debt and so worried.

[AdamSingh]

Greetings, this is one awesome thread. Here is my situation.
Worked for 3 years full time a my first job (job A) , got laid off from there and got approved for EI for 42 weeks.
Received EI payments for first 8 weeks ,found a contract job (job B) and started working as a contractor.
While I am currently working in Job B ; I am keeping my EI claim active by reporting my weekly earnings during my biweekly reports.
I am just not liking Job B (the contract) ; I plan to quit from Job B before the end of the contract.

Question1 :
Quitting Job B before the end of the contract ; will this have any effect on the remaining 34 weeks(42-8=32)of my currently active claim which was based on Job A

Question2:
Quitting Job B before the end of the contract ; will I owe the already received 8 weeks of EI back to Service Canada ; these were the 8 weeks when I was laid off from JOB A and was actively looking for work

[sunshine27]

Does your former employer see everything you wrote on your ei claim in his letter he receives? Or what does it state?

[Electricute]

hi again. This was your last reply to me http://forums.redflagdeals.com/merge.../#post14854358

so it's been two months of hell trying to get EI payments up and running again. i keep calling, never getting through. The last time i talked to them, they said that a decision was way overdue and i should call on thursday last week if i still hadn't had word.... well... they haven't picked up the phone since thursday. the line doesn't even let you stay on anymore, it just kicks you off, saying "we have too many people waiting to talk to an operator".

i'm going to the service canada office tomorrow because i am just so desperate right now.

what should i do if they still tell me no decision has been made? is there nothing i can do but wait? is this really normal??

it's been three times the amount of time they said it would be. i am drowning in debt and so worried.

he'd prolly suggest just going to your local MPs office and complaining there. Going into service canada will do nothing, they will give u the phone and tell u to call in

Greetings, this is one awesome thread. Here is my situation.
Worked for 3 years full time a my first job (job A) , got laid off from there and got approved for EI for 42 weeks.
Received EI payments for first 8 weeks ,found a contract job (job B) and started working as a contractor.
While I am currently working in Job B ; I am keeping my EI claim active by reporting my weekly earnings during my biweekly reports.
I am just not liking Job B (the contract) ; I plan to quit from Job B before the end of the contract.

Question1 :
Quitting Job B before the end of the contract ; will this have any effect on the remaining 34 weeks(42-8=32)of my currently active claim which was based on Job A

Question2:
Quitting Job B before the end of the contract ; will I owe the already received 8 weeks of EI back to Service Canada ; these were the 8 weeks when I was laid off from JOB A and was actively looking for work

1. yes if u quit qithout just cause they can dientitle your remaining benefits

2. no u will not owe the weeks u've already been paid out

Does your former employer see everything you wrote on your ei claim in his letter he receives? Or what does it state?

no, they dont see anything, they would just get a letter saying that u were approved

[b166er1337]

Does your former employer see everything you wrote on your ei claim in his letter he receives? Or what does it state?

Only if they file an appeal, then they can access your statement.