Travelling to US on a mini-vacation while collecting EI?

[L_n_O 3]

Trying to plan a trip where the two sets of parents can meet =)

Mom's collecting EI..

can she travel without a problem? Dad was freaking out saying he doesn't want to jeopardize her claims if it's not legal..

(he's such a freak of nature sometimes)

[Reba 2]

how long is she planning on being in the States?

I think just when she sends in her claim for that time frame, she tells them that she took a vacation. Should be no probs.

[misa 2]

It's no problem at all but technically she's not "willing and able" to work during that time, so she should mark it down as such. On the cards it's a yes or no question and if the answer is no, there's a place to write down why. She just won't get money for that period depending on how long she's on vacation for.

[thetreble 19]

I got EI for 5 months while living in the US. My entire claim almost was spent with me living in the US. My oldest brother did the same thing as he was collecting EI while playing semi-pro hockey down here. There is no way for them to find out where you are and what you are doing. I'm not saying you should do this but I am telling you that from my experience, nothing of consequence happened and every time on the online questionnaire I said I was willing and able to work. They aren't going to track your mum down.

[L_n_O 3]

It's no problem at all but technically she's not "willing and able" to work during that time, so she should mark it down as such. On the cards it's a yes or no question and if the answer is no, there's a place to write down why. She just won't get money for that period depending on how long she's on vacation for.

we were only thinking of going for a couple days (less than a week)

are there limits?

(the whole reason for the trip is so my parents can meet Ol's)

two years and they've never met!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

One can still look when one is away!! One can apply for jobs via the internet, so who says she wasn't looking!! ;-)

[thetreble 19]

One can still look when one is away!! One can apply for jobs via the internet, so who says she wasn't looking!! ;-)

preciselllyyyyy....

[misa 2]

A few days? Tell her not to sweat it. I was thinking like a full reporting period or something.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I got EI for 5 months while living in the US. My entire claim almost was spent with me living in the US. My oldest brother did the same thing as he was collecting EI while playing semi-pro hockey down here. There is no way for them to find out where you are and what you are doing. I'm not saying you should do this but I am telling you that from my experience, nothing of consequence happened and every time on the online questionnaire I said I was willing and able to work. They aren't going to track your mum down.

Well you have been lucky - so far. When I worked for the MP in Canada there were quite a number of times constituents came in having done exactly what you had done - and upset because they now had a bill for EI overpayment and had to pay back the EI they had collected illegally by declaring they were available to work when they were not. One individual was indeed 'living'/holidaying in the US while claiming benefits. He also had a penalty because they determined he had deliberately committed fraud so it wasn't a matter of simply paying back the amount paid. The time involved was a full year and a half prior to when he received the repayment bill. Don't assume you are out of the woods yet - they may still come after you for repayment.

To the OP, your Mom can take a holiday. She just needs to record that she isn't available for work on the days that she is in the US. She won't get into any trouble and she isn't doing anything wrong. They will just deduct the amount for those days from her benefits cheque. Good luck with the visit - I am sure everything will go well.

[thetreble 19]

Well you have been lucky - so far. When I worked for the MP in Canada there were quite a number of times constituents came in having done exactly what you had done - and upset because they now had a bill for EI overpayment and had to pay back the EI they had collected illegally by declaring they were available to work when they were not. One individual was indeed 'living'/holidaying in the US while claiming benefits. He also had a penalty because they determined he had deliberately committed fraud so it wasn't a matter of simply paying back the amount paid. The time involved was a full year and a half prior to when he received the repayment bill. Don't assume you are out of the woods yet - they may still come after you for repayment.

Fair enough. But to be honest, I'm not that worried about it. Since you worked for an MP and saw experience with these situations...could you tell me how exactly the Canadian government found out that they had illegally claimed EI? I'm merely interested to know.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

In many cases the 'how they found out' never came up. In the Florida case it came up because the individual filed a claim with OHIP to be reimbursed for medical expenses he incurred while in Florida. How EI found out about it, I don't know, but they did know and were able to determine a specified period of time that he was out of the country. They told him that if their information was wrong he had to provide proof that he was ready and available to work in Canada during that time. Since he wasn't available and wasn't in Canada, he wasn't able to do so. He wanted us to 'fix' it for him - again, something that we couldn't do because he was guilty and got caught. He wasn't a happy camper when he left our office.

[thetreble 19]

Good to know. I won't hold my breath but I am aware that it does happen.

[Lance27 19]

In many cases the 'how they found out' never came up. In the Florida case it came up because the individual filed a claim with OHIP to be reimbursed for medical expenses he incurred while in Florida. How EI found out about it, I don't know, but they did know and were able to determine a specified period of time that he was out of the country. They told him that if their information was wrong he had to provide proof that he was ready and available to work in Canada during that time. Since he wasn't available and wasn't in Canada, he wasn't able to do so. He wanted us to 'fix' it for him - again, something that we couldn't do because he was guilty and got caught. He wasn't a happy camper when he left our office.

How? ... They cross check with Canada Customs and Revenue, Immigration and other government agencies.

If it is determined that you fraudently received EI you are to repay the overpayment plus a penalty which could be 50% of the claimed amount if it is over $1000.00 + interest at prime + 3% (It will also go on your record so you have to accumulate more hours the next time you file for EI)

Your EI claims can be audited upto 6 years from the time you last claimed EI.

Edited August 6, 2007 by Lance27

[Teacher 0]

Send us your tired, poor, hungry, huddled masses yearning to cheat the sytem.......

I got EI for 5 months while living in the US. My entire claim almost was spent with me living in the US. My oldest brother did the same thing as he was collecting EI while playing semi-pro hockey down here. There is no way for them to find out where you are and what you are doing. I'm not saying you should do this but I am telling you that from my experience, nothing of consequence happened and every time on the online questionnaire I said I was willing and able to work. They aren't going to track your mum down.

[Lance27 19]