OT: Question about EI (Employment insurance)

[Jets4Life]

Hello.

I have a slight dilemma on my hands. I have been employed at a company I really enjoy for nearly 2 years. Unfortunately, work was slow from mid December to late January last year. This year, work has been slower than at any point in years in my industry. I have only worked roughly 20 days in 4 months. My last job was a 9 day stint outside my city in mid February. My last day working was Feb. 23.

I am technically still employed, but my manager said that work may not pick up unitl late April. Meanwhile, I have been living off my credit card for the past month. Considering I havent' worked in 6 weeks, and ahve barely worked at all since early December, would I be eligable for EI benefits, or would I have to ask my employer for a temporary layoff?

I can't seem to find this answer, so I went and applied at any rate today. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Nona Di Giuseppe]

Yes. You are eligible.

No, you don't need to req a lay off.

If you are scheduled to work very little, EI will pro-rate your EI payment (top you up) to your EI max.

Next time apply earlier. Within three weeks. Hopefully they backdated a bit of your first pay. (Prob will a week, maybe two)

 

[Jets 31]

Hello.

I have a slight dilemma on my hands. I have been employed at a company I really enjoy for nearly 2 years. Unfortunately, work was slow from mid December to late January last year. This year, work has been slower than at any point in years in my industry. I have only worked roughly 20 days in 4 months. My last job was a 9 day stint outside my city in mid February. My last day working was Feb. 23.

I am technically still employed, but my manager said that work may not pick up unitl late April. Meanwhile, I have been living off my credit card for the past month. Considering I havent' worked in 6 weeks, and ahve barely worked at all since early December, would I be eligable for EI benefits, or would I have to ask my employer for a temporary layoff?

I can't seem to find this answer, so I went and applied at any rate today. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You absolutely have to have something from your employer saying you are laid off or let go to collect. Friend of mine lost his job and was on unemployment for 1 month and went and tried a new job but didn't like it and quit and now has been fighting to get unemployment but because he quit they now don't want to pay him unemployment. He's fighting it but it's been over a month with no money. So if you are collecting unemployment you better not try out something new and find out you don't like it and quit because then you can't collect anymore, just a stupid system.

 

[WaveRaven]

You need a layoff notice. Ask you're employer.

As far as not being eligible when you quit you can blame the Conservative party for that one. It used to be a 6 week waiting period of you quit. Now thats quite a hit but better than the current system.

 

[SLAYER]

I would refer to the guidelines outlined on the government website:

EI Regular Benefits - Canada.ca

EI Regular Benefits

www.canada.ca

 

[Jets 31]

You need a layoff notice. Ask you're employer.

As far as not being eligible when you quit you can blame the Conservative party for that one. It used to be a 6 week waiting period of you quit. Now thats quite a hit but better than the current system.

Honestly with the current system it's almost like they don't want you to try something new and get a job until your unemployment is going to run out. My buddy had never collected unemployment before, first time after 30 years of working and paying into unemployment insurance and should be able to collect until August, very frustrating.

 

[WaveRaven]

To the OP. Call the the labour board and look into you're rights. They may have to provide you the layoff paperwork if they are not providing you work.

 

[Zippity]

How is this Jets related?

 

[Cypruss]

How is this Jets related?

Well, it's clearly labeled "off topic". Just someone reaching out to the board for some help with personal life and looking from guidance. Seems lots of people jumping in to try and assist a fellow forum member .....which I am sure why they posted here in our little community.

 

[Jets4Life]

I would refer to the guidelines outlined on the government website:

EI Regular Benefits - Canada.ca

EI Regular Benefits

www.canada.ca

I tried this website. Unfortunately, it says nothing about having a job where one goes nearly 2 months without work. What I suspect from research, is i may ahve to ask my employer for a temporary layoff, just so I can be paid retrospect to after February 23.

The frustrating thing about my job, is hours are usually plenty for nearly 10 months, but it's an erratic schedule at times, and I do not know ahead of time when I will be not working for long periods of time. If I had known that I would be sitting for 2 months, I would have just worked at a temp job until work resumed, considering how much I hate sitting around.

 

[Jets4Life]

Yes. You are eligible.

No, you don't need to req a lay off.

If you are scheduled to work very little, EI will pro-rate your EI payment (top you up) to your EI max.

Next time apply earlier. Within three weeks. Hopefully they backdated a bit of your first pay. (Prob will a week, maybe two)

I am not certain that is correct in my situation.

Are you referring to people on EI who find part time work, after their benefits kick in? They are eligible to work 20 hours/week. After that, any extra pay they receive, is deducted from their EI earnings. IN my case, if I were to be called back at the end of the month, I would resume my regular work schedule (100 hours every two weeks), so there is no need to collect EI once that occurs.

 

[razorsedge]

Hello.

I have a slight dilemma on my hands. I have been employed at a company I really enjoy for nearly 2 years. Unfortunately, work was slow from mid December to late January last year. This year, work has been slower than at any point in years in my industry. I have only worked roughly 20 days in 4 months. My last job was a 9 day stint outside my city in mid February. My last day working was Feb. 23.

I am technically still employed, but my manager said that work may not pick up unitl late April. Meanwhile, I have been living off my credit card for the past month. Considering I havent' worked in 6 weeks, and ahve barely worked at all since early December, would I be eligable for EI benefits, or would I have to ask my employer for a temporary layoff?

I can't seem to find this answer, so I went and applied at any rate today. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm in the exact same boat. I claimed EI while still being technically employed. You can even claim EI to top up your wage if you're only working a couple days a week. I've gone off and on it since December.

 

[jiho]

How is this Jets related?

The Jets may be out of work in five games

 

[Guffman]

The Jets may be out of work in five games

I wonder if hockey players can apply for EI and if they have to prove they contacted a few teams for a job.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

You absolutely have to have something from your employer saying you are laid off or let go to collect. Friend of mine lost his job and was on unemployment for 1 month and went and tried a new job but didn't like it and quit and now has been fighting to get unemployment but because he quit they now don't want to pay him unemployment. He's fighting it but it's been over a month with no money. So if you are collecting unemployment you better not try out something new and find out you don't like it and quit because then you can't collect anymore, just a stupid system.

Nothing stupid about it. You quit your job, you are not eligible. The rest of your friend's story is irrelevant. He found a job. No longer eligible for EI. He quit that job. Not eligible. The only way to get around that is if you quit for acceptable cause, like abuse by the employer.

 

[GeorgeJETson]

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. I'm afraid I don't have any additional information to offer, so I can't be of much help.

Maybe if you call the EI number and speak with an agent? If you do, be sure to call as soon as they open; when I was laid off, you had to call early just to get in the queue. Otherwise, you can't get through that day.

Be prepared for a long wait also. I think I had to wait for over an hour when I called first thing in the morning.

 

[lomiller1]

I tried this website. Unfortunately, it says nothing about having a job where one goes nearly 2 months without work. What I suspect from research, is i may ahve to ask my employer for a temporary layoff, just so I can be paid retrospect to after February 23.

The frustrating thing about my job, is hours are usually plenty for nearly 10 months, but it's an erratic schedule at times, and I do not know ahead of time when I will be not working for long periods of time. If I had known that I would be sitting for 2 months, I would have just worked at a temp job until work resumed, considering how much I hate sitting around.

Eligibility criteria​

To receive EI Regular benefits, you need to demonstrate that you:

• were employed in insurable employment
• lost your job through no fault of your own
  • are affected by flooding or wildfires
• have been without work and without pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks
• have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter
• are ready, willing and capable of working each day
• are actively looking for work (you must keep a written record of

 

[Jets 31]

Nothing stupid about it. You quit your job, you are not eligible. The rest of your friend's story is irrelevant. He found a job. No longer eligible for EI. He quit that job. Not eligible. The only way to get around that is if you quit for acceptable cause, like abuse by the employer.

You better be sure you will like your new job or how they run their company because you can't quit and get EI again. It's a pretty stupid system if you ask me .

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

You absolutely have to have something from your employer saying you are laid off or let go to collect. Friend of mine lost his job and was on unemployment for 1 month and went and tried a new job but didn't like it and quit and now has been fighting to get unemployment but because he quit they now don't want to pay him unemployment. He's fighting it but it's been over a month with no money. So if you are collecting unemployment you better not try out something new and find out you don't like it and quit because then you can't collect anymore, just a stupid system.

this is false.

you provide a company name and phone number. that's it.

your friend quit a job. not very stupid system if ppl can quit n collect

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

That is not correct in my situation.

I beleve you are referring to people on EI who find part time work, after their benefits kick in. They are eligible to work 20 hours/week. After that, any extra pay they receive, is deducted from their EI earnings. IN my case, if I were to be called back at the end of the month, I would resume my regular work schedule (100 hours every two weeks), so there is no need to collect EI once that occurs.

no. im not.

i just pointed out you don't have to be entirely "laid off".

Even just reducing hours below x threshold qualifies you.

You better be sure you will like your new job or how they run their company because you can't quit and get EI again. It's a pretty stupid system if you ask me .

it's infinitely more stupid if ppl could quit their jobs and get EI. i don't think u understand it's purpose.

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

I'm in the exact same boat. I claimed EI while still being technically employed. You can even claim EI to top up your wage if you're only working a couple days a week. I've gone off and on it since December.

this was my point

one doesn't need a declaration of being laid off either

 

[Jets4Life]

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation. I'm afraid I don't have any additional information to offer, so I can't be of much help.

Maybe if you call the EI number and speak with an agent? If you do, be sure to call as soon as they open; when I was laid off, you had to call early just to get in the queue. Otherwise, you can't get through that day.

Be prepared for a long wait also. I think I had to wait for over an hour when I called first thing in the morning.

Tell me about it lol. This morning I went to Service Canada at 9 AM. There were at least 100 people lined up outside. My guess is it can be a direct result of the record number of non-Canadians we admitted in 2022. Canada grew by 1.050,000 last year, nearly doubling the old record. My take on it, is many of the new Canadians are applying for Government ID, and looking inot programs that will integrate them into their new home.

In all seriousness, thank you to all. It's not easy to admit one is struggling, but being on this forum for 20 years, I realise aside from being passionate hockey fans, and at times wanting to choke each other out lol, the vast majority of you are good people. Cheers to you all!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

You better be sure you will like your new job or how they run their company because you can't quit and get EI again. It's a pretty stupid system if you ask me .

How is that stupid? It is a system designed to protect you from something beyond your control and not your fault. It is like fire insurance on your house. Would you expect coverage if you decided you didn't like your house so you burned it to the ground?

If you don't like your job look for another one. Do not quit your current job until you have found its replacement.

 

[Jetsfan79]

How is that stupid? It is a system designed to protect you from something beyond your control and not your fault. It is like fire insurance on your house. Would you expect coverage if you decided you didn't like your house so you burned it to the ground?

If you don't like your job look for another one. Do not quit your current job until you have found its replacement.

or stick with the Job you don't like and make them fire you without any tangible ammunition for getting fired with cause.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

or stick with the Job you don't like and make them fire you without any tangible ammunition for getting fired with cause.

Sure - but I'm assuming a little more ambition than maneuvring for EI. EI doesn't pay very well IF you qualify for it. Might keep the wolf away from the door for a while, but its not much of a living.