The Canuck EI Thread

[TimandJoyce 1]

I just got through to the EI office and talked to Donna. She is such a sweetie. She told me that I just need to keep sending in my cards and that once my EAD comes that I can send it in. I am so excited, because I haven't collected EI in like forever I am classified as a long term employee so I get extended weeks and an extension on the end of my claim. I am hoping and praying that I don't need this and I get a job right away but its a nice safety net.

That's great!

I talked with Donna today, she took my info for up to the beginning of January and I'll call again Friday to be up to date. I'm emailing her my info on my EAD and she said she'll forward it to the "right people"..lol.

I hope it means that I'll see a deposit in my bank soon. I'm like you, I hope I get a job soon too!

[brocku00 1]

Hi Everyone,

I'm just wondering if someone that is already on EI due to a lay off or something, and then immigrates to US, are they entitled to keep the EI until it runs out or until they find a job in the US???

Thanks for you help.

[Texanadian 10]

Hey...

question for you all... .

I have two jobs, one full time ( the big money maker) and a second job that's part time on the weekends.

IF I were to quit the BIG job during the week sooner, for the same reasons, to relocate to be with spouse and the smaller job later, which ROE would they look at OR

do they just want to see that I've logged the right amount of hours and made a certain amount of money over the years?

I am not sure how this works. I will probably stay at both jobs until the same time but part of me almost wants to ditch the big job a little sooner.

Not sure if I'm being clear here and if not, I'd be happy to clarify if someone were able to help/answer my questions.

Thanks so much,

LGG

Quitting the big job a week sooner shouldn't be a problem. EI only has issues when you quit something like a month ahead of your move date. In other words, they want you working in Canada up until a "reasonable" amount of time before you move. Reasonable isn't set in stone. If you keep working the part time job until closer to your move date, it would only help your cause.

Through my own ignorance of the Canadian EI system, and my current complete confusion, I find myself a bit lost here. I was originally under the impression that you were unable to apply for EI until you were actually eligible to work. Now I read on the servicecanada site that you should apply no later than 4 weeks or could lose benefits. So I guess my question is, Mel came here on March 23, 2009, we got Married a month later, and applied for AoS on August 1, eventually receiving her Greencard on Nov. 17. Is she still eligible to apply for EI?

She is still eligible. But it's going to cut down on your ROE hours. They base your ROE hours 1 year back from the date of applying. So that would be January 24th 2009 (as I'm typing this). So they would count your hours worked from Jan 24th until March 23rd 2009. Roughly 500 hours assuming full time worked. That qualifies for 11 weeks of EI.

If you haven't applied yet, do so immediately. Donna may phone you and ask why the delay in filing. This is the exact same thing that happened to me. There is an appeal process that you can go through to try and get your claim backdated. I did this, but was denied. (They said I should have phoned EI to clarify when I was supposed to apply). Still it's worth a shot. You never know.

Does your claim start from the date of the approved EAD? I don't have it but should be getting it soon. My AP showed up yesterday, and I've got two touches on EAD. ( Two different emails that said card production ordered )

EAD or Green card (whatever is approved first). If they're approved Feb 1st as an example. Your claim would start paying out Feb 14th. (2 week waiting period). In reality, it will take about a month before you actually see any money. (waiting for the EAD/Green to arrive, then faxing EI, then the waiting period, then receiving the money)......But don't worry. You won't lose any time. They will back date everything as you would expect.

Hi Everyone,

I'm just wondering if someone that is already on EI due to a lay off or something, and then immigrates to US, are they entitled to keep the EI until it runs out or until they find a job in the US???

Thanks for you help.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think a Canadian EI claim would transfer. Because you're not "able" to work in Canada after you move to the USA, you can't just transfer the claim. They would probably want you to file a new claim which depending on how long you've been on EI would reduce your weeks of eligible EI in the USA.

[Wis-Can 0]

I didn't want to paste the whole previous post but just wanted to mention for Rob and Mel that # of weeks that you are entitled to can change if the applicant is considered a long term employee. If EI hasn't been claimed in a while and you fall in that category it changes the # of weeks and may add an extension on to your claim to enable you to claim some of the extended weeks.

[TimandJoyce 1]

YAY!! Talked with someone at EI, ( not Donna) and my claim will be starting soon. She confirmed that I was looking for work and has no problem re-activating the claim. The connection was a little bad, so I can't remember when she said would be my first deposit. I'm going to check my account a week from Friday, I think that's when she said it was.

[Danu 19]

So I spoke to EI today and to Donna, and they will transfer a claim over to the interstate office if its already in progress and you move to be with your spouse, just same rules as activating a new one. You get no money till you get your EAD. Still good news, as if I can't find work right away I might be able to get a few more months out of my claim. WOOHOO!

Edited January 26, 2010 by Danu

[minnew 4]

YAY!! Talked with someone at EI, ( not Donna) and my claim will be starting soon. She confirmed that I was looking for work and has no problem re-activating the claim. The connection was a little bad, so I can't remember when she said would be my first deposit. I'm going to check my account a week from Friday, I think that's when she said it was.

That's great news Joyce! I believe I had my first deposit within 2 business days! Hopefully it's the same for you!

So I spoke to EI today and to Donna, and they will transfer a claim over to the interstate office if its already in progress and you move to be with your spouse, just same rules as activating a new one. You get no money till you get your EAD. Still good news, as if I can't find work right away I might be able to get a few more months out of my claim.

WOOHOO!

Good to know! At least you are still eligible with EAD! Now get this AOS papers off! LoL!

[TimandJoyce 1]

I got my first interview coming up on Wednesday!! I'm so excited. Don't even know I have the job, but knowing I can interview legally...

It's been so long since I was on EI. Are we allowed a certain amount, or do they deduct dollar for dollar?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I got my first interview coming up on Wednesday!! I'm so excited. Don't even know I have the job, but knowing I can interview legally...

It's been so long since I was on EI. Are we allowed a certain amount, or do they deduct dollar for dollar?

Good question - I think it was dollar for dollar...I know my first paycheque here was piddly because I started in the middle of a pay period so I continued to collect EI until my first real cheque came in and then cancelled my claim

[MrsCat 6]

I got my first interview coming up on Wednesday!! I'm so excited. Don't even know I have the job, but knowing I can interview legally...

It's been so long since I was on EI. Are we allowed a certain amount, or do they deduct dollar for dollar?

From their site:

What you should know

Under current Employment Insurance (EI) rules, you can work a certain amount while you are on claim without a deduction from your benefits. If you work part-time while receiving regular, parental, compassionate care or fishing benefits, you can earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher.

Special temporary measures have been put in place to ensure workers can accept all available employment while on claim. This pilot project increases the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits by allowing you to earn the greater of $75 or 40% of weekly benefits

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/info..._earnings.shtml

[Dan and Ali 3]

From their site:

What you should know

Under current Employment Insurance (EI) rules, you can work a certain amount while you are on claim without a deduction from your benefits. If you work part-time while receiving regular, parental, compassionate care or fishing benefits, you can earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher.

Special temporary measures have been put in place to ensure workers can accept all available employment while on claim. This pilot project increases the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits by allowing you to earn the greater of $75 or 40% of weekly benefits

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/info..._earnings.shtml

It`s not a temporary measure any longer -- it`s 40%. This applies to all regular claims

[TimandJoyce 1]

It`s not a temporary measure any longer -- it`s 40%. This applies to all regular claims

The job is only 10-15 hrs/ week, and I'm not sure the wage yet. Sounds as if I'd be able to keep most of it then. * never really passed math..lol* Just good to know all is not lost yet..

Thanks so much for your help!

[SKYWAY 0]

IS IT JUST ME ???? .....

or is the EI office really bad with mail ... i am constantly on the phone with them asking where my cards are ..or why they haven't gotten my cards.

there really needs to be a better way for that information .. i'm still waiting for things from mid JAN ..

it's getting really silly then when i call that Donna says i have to be 4 weeks behind from when they think i should have gotten it ..

Darn florida really needs to open up the job market quicker so i can just ignore it

[kitjerky 0]

Hi ya..sort of confused...I filed for EI before i left Canada...now they have sent me a letter saying i cant have claim it.....until i get EAD which is months awaybut others have got EI...what do i need to do claim EI??? have spoken to them they say not until i get EAD ...

I am so damm confused on this matter any help would be great !!!!!!

[SapphireDreams 71]

Hi ya..sort of confused...I filed for EI before i left Canada...now they have sent me a letter saying i cant have claim it.....until i get EAD which is months awaybut others have got EI...what do i need to do claim EI??? have spoken to them they say not until i get EAD ...

I am so damm confused on this matter any help would be great !!!!!!

No that is correct, you cannot start collecting until you are legally able to work in the US, which is when you get your EAD. So, until then, you just wait. When you get your EAD in the mail, send them a fax and they will process your claim and you can start collecting.

A few years ago people got lucky and were able to start collecting right away, but that's not the case anymore.