Unleash the Power of Employment Insurance with PLIAN - Your Ultimate Legal Guide

In order to be eligible for Employment Insurance, prior to claiming, you must have been employed and paid salary or wages by at least one employer, within a formal employment relationship, who also deducted EI premiums from your salary or wages.

The number of hours worked during your qualifying period will determine your eligibility for benefits. If you have worked for 700 hours or more in your qualifying period, you will usually qualify for EI benefits. Alternatively, if you have worked between 420 and 700 hours during your qualifying period, you may also qualify for benefits. However, if you have worked less than 420 hours during your qualifying period, you will not be eligible for EI.

Your qualifying period will be the shorter of either the 52-week period immediately preceding your claim's start date, or the period between the start of a previous benefit period and the start of your new benefit period if you were approved for benefits within the last 52 weeks.

It is important to note that you will not be eligible for Employment Insurance if you voluntarily left your job, if you were dismissed from your job due to misconduct, or if you are unemployed due to participating in a labor strike or lockout. However, if you left your job voluntarily due to harassment, discrimination, dangerous work conditions, caring for your child, being pressured by your employer, or other similar reasons, you may still qualify for EI benefits.

In order to apply for Employment Insurance, you will need to provide various pieces of information and documentation, such as your social insurance number, a second piece of identification with your photo, your mother's maiden name, your residential and mailing addresses, and your complete banking information, including your bank name, branch number, and account number. Additionally, you will need to provide the names, addresses, and start and end dates of any jobs you've had within the last 52 weeks, as well as the reasons for your job loss. If you quit or were dismissed from your job within the last 52 weeks, you will also need to provide a detailed report of the circumstances surrounding your job loss. Finally, if your earnings varied over the last year, you will need to provide the dates and earnings of each of your highest paid weeks, where EI premiums were deducted, in the last 52 weeks or since you last claimed EI, whichever is the shorter period.

If you believe that you qualify for Employment Insurance benefits, it is important to apply as soon as possible after losing your job. You can apply either online or at a Service Canada Centre. The application process typically takes around one hour to complete.

Before your application can be processed by Service Canada, each employer that you've worked for within the last 52 weeks must complete a Record of Employment (ROE) on your behalf. ROEs can be in paper or electronic form, and if your employer issues paper ROEs, you must request a copy from them and provide it to Service Canada by mail or in person as soon as possible after submitting your EI application. If your employer issues electronic ROEs, they will submit them directly to Service Canada, so you will not need to request a copy from them or provide copies to Service Canada. Be sure to confirm with your employer whether your ROE will be in paper or electronic form.

Understanding Employment Insurance

What is the Record of Employment?

When it comes to Employment Insurance, one important document is the Record of Employment. This document provides details about your job, including why it ended, how many weeks you worked, and your weekly earnings. It is essential to have a copy of your Record of Employment to ensure that you receive the correct amount of benefits.

How to Receive Employment Insurance

If you are entitled to receive Employment Insurance, there will be an initial two-week unpaid waiting period before your benefits take effect. It takes approximately 28 days for the first payment to arrive from the date of application, provided that all supporting documentation is received by Service Canada.

The amount of your Employment Insurance payments depends on your previous salary or wages, with the basic rate being 55% of your average weekly earnings from the previous 26 weeks. The maximum amount you can receive is $49,500, with a weekly maximum payment of $524.

The duration of your EI benefits depends on the unemployment rate in your area and the number of hours you worked during your qualifying period. Payments can range from a minimum of 14 to a maximum of 45 weeks.

Maintaining Your Employment Insurance Benefits

To maintain your Employment Insurance benefits, you must remain available and actively search for work. Keep a record of your job search and follow up on any job referrals made by EI staff. Attend all meetings and training programs approved for you by the EI staff and make necessary childcare arrangements.

To receive the benefits, you must submit reports to Service Canada every two weeks. You can do this online or through the Telephone Reporting Service with a four-digit access code on your Benefit Statement. The statement will be sent to you shortly after your EI application is filed, and it will have the details of when you need to make your bi-weekly report.

What if Your Employment Insurance is Denied?

If you receive a letter or telephone call notifying you of the denial of your Employment Insurance, you have 30 days to appeal the decision. You can do this by submitting a form found on the Service Canada website by mail or in person at a Service Canada Centre. If the request is still denied, you can file an appeal with the Social Security Tribunal General Division within 30 days of the reconsideration decision.

If you find yourself disagreeing with a decision made by the Social Security Tribunal General Division, you have the option of filing an Application Requesting Leave to Appeal to the Appeal Division form with the Social Security Tribunal Appeal Division. However, it is important to note that access to appeal at this level is not automatic, and you must first receive permission to appeal. Fortunately, the form required to initiate this process can be easily found on the Social Security Tribunal website through this link. It is essential that you submit your application within 30 days of receiving the decision of the General Division to be eligible for appeal.

In the event that you have questions regarding your EI claim or general information about the EI program, it is important to know how to contact Service Canada. You can easily do so by following these steps: