Applying For Employment Insurance In CanadaEmployment insurance is a type of unemployment insurance that is specific to Canada. Employment insurance is designed to provide financial assistance for people who are unemployed due to maternity leave, sickness and seasonal workers. Workers pay into a central employment insurance fund that they can later draw from if they are unable to work. Whether or not you can apply for employment insurance can depend on several factors, including how long you have been employed and why you are now unemployed. If you are unemployed due to no fault of your own, such as being laid off or cannot find a job, you may be eligible to apply for employment insurance. Special rules exist for applying for employment insurance if you are pregnant, sick or a seasonal worker. You may also be eligible to apply for employment insurance if you could not work because you were in jail, attending instruction referred by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada or working could cause harm to you, your unborn child or breast fed child. When applying for employment insurance, you will need to provide the minimum requirements of your Social Insurance Number (SIN), details of your most recent employment and your Record of Employment (ROE). If you have your ROE, you can apply for employment insurance immediately. If you do not have your ROE, you must request one from your last employer. If you are applying for employment insurance because you are sick, you must also provide a medical certificate from your doctor. If you are applying for employment insurance because you are caring for a family member that is sick or dying, you must provide a medical certificate from their doctor. If you are applying for employment insurance for maternity leave or parental leave, you must provide the Social Insurance Number of your child. Normally, you are eligible to apply for employment insurance after you have been unemployed for seven consecutive days. However, if you are applying for employment insurance because of pregnancy, maternity leave, parental leave or sickness, you should apply as soon as you stop working regardless of whether you will receive additional pay after you become unemployed. Applying for employment insurance is easy and convenient since you can apply online or in person. When applying for employment insurance, you must file a report every two weeks with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for as long as you are receiving benefits. Filing a report can be done via phone, mail or internet. After applying for employment insurance, you will not receive any benefits for the first two weeks after your claim is made. This is a waiting period. If you receive vacation pay, severance pay or bonuses during the waiting period, your claim can be delayed. If you are denied after applying for employment insurance, you can appeal the decision within the first 30 days of receiving the decision of denial. An appeal has three levels, a board of referees, an umpire and a court. Information on appealing a decision involving applying for employment insurance can be obtained by contacting Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). |