Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Applying for EI

Are you prepared for the unexpected? Being organized and informed may help you navigate the employment insurance (EI) system and therefore not experience any hurdles or delays in benefits.

Employment insurance provides regular benefits to individuals who lose their job through no fault of their own (e.g., due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass layoffs), are available and able to work, but can’t find a job. As soon as you stop working you can apply for benefits, even if you have not received your Record of Employment from your employer. You may lose benefits if you delay filing your claim for more than four weeks after your last day of work.

Who is eligible?

EI eligibility is based on individual circumstances. You should always apply even if you think you are not eligible. Factors that are considered include

you lost your job through no fault of your own;
you have been without work and pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks;
you have worked the minimum insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim; and
you are ready, willing, and capable of working each day, and you are actively looking for work.

The number of hours of insurable employment you need to qualify depends on your situation. The qualifying period is the shorter of the 52-week period immediately before the start date of your claim, or the period from the start of a previous benefit period to the start of your new benefit period, if you applied for benefits earlier and your application was approved in the last 52 weeks.

How much you receive varies by individual and region. For most people, the basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55 percent of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $562 per week. As of January 1, 2019, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $53,100. Remember that EI benefits are taxable, and taxes will be deducted from your payment. For Ontario members who participate in the Vacation Pay Fund, do not include your vacation pay received from the fund in your application as it has already been taxed at source.

You can receive EI from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region at the time of filing your claim and the amount of insurable hours you have accumulated in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter.

How to start

Make sure you have all your personal information ready before you apply.

This includes

your Social Insurance Number,
your mother’s maiden name,
your complete mailing address,
your banking information (for direct deposit),
the detailed version of the facts of your separation of employment, and
earnings for each of your highest paid weeks of insurable earnings for your claim period.

This information, along with your Record of Employment, will be used to calculate your benefit rate.

Ready to apply? Visit canada.ca/ei to start your application and to determine your individual eligibility requirements.

Looking for work?

CLAC Jobs can assist you with your job search, so make sure you apply at yourtraining.ca/jobs. Send us an email every two weeks and indicate you are still actively looking for work and then report your activity with the Government of Canada’s Internet Reporting Service.

Applying for EI

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