EI while away from Canada?

[Jingwu3]

Does anyone know whether its possible to receive EI being away from Canada?

I am planning to apply for EI soon but I need to be away from Canada for about 3 months for family reasons...is there anyway I can still receive regular benefits?

thanks alot

[ImportPsycho]

not sure but while you are getting EI you need to constantly in search for new job and report to rev canada, being away you can't do that so how are they going to give money

[johny]

no

[twitchyzero]

you cant
they'll see it as you taking a vaycay

[ebee]

if you're not in canada, you can't receive benefits. exception - unless you are out of the country looking for a job.

[Gt-R R34]

i keep hearing about this,

But i also keep seeing people take the EI and then leave for a couple of months and come back.

legally you can't, but the cracks in this system is about canada wide, so i'm sure you'll fall in the cracks.

[sh0n]

Legally no. You are not allowed to collect EI when you are away from the country (i.e on vacation or even away from country)

But there are grey areas in the system. Its if you are willing to take the risk to leave the country and still try and claim EI. Unless there were systems and checks in place that checks to see if you leave/enter the country.

I wouldn't advise on taking the risk. Cause worst case is you are claiming while you have left the country and somehow they find out and you have to pay it all back

[InvisibleSoul]

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/e.../regular.shtml

Regular benefits while temporarily absent from Canada
Under most circumstances you are not allowed to receive regular benefits for any period in which you are not in Canada. However, you can receive regular benefits provided that you are available for work in Canada and that you inform your Service Canada Centre of your temporary absence in the following situations :

for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to attend a funeral of a member of your immediate family or a close relative;
for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to accompany a member of your immediate family who is ill to a medical facility, provided the treatment is not readily available in your family member's area of residence;
for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to visit a member of your immediate family who is seriously ill or injured;
for a period of not more than 7 consecutive days to attend a real job interview;
for a period of not more than 14 consecutive days to conduct a real job search;
to attend an approved training program.
Immediate family: Father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, foster parent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, spouse, your child or the child of your spouse, father-in-law, mother-in-law, a dependant or a relative residing in your household or a relative with whom you permanently live with.

A close relative: A grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew.

Your spouse: Person you are married to or common law partner of more than one year or less where children are present.

I would highly advise against this.

If you leave the country, the government will know.

And who issues EI? The government.

If you get caught, not only will you have to pay back the money with interest, they'll make it harder for you to collect again in the future.

[ebee]

^ I advise against this as well. Once Service Canada finds out, which is very likely, you will not only have to pay it back, you will get blacklisted. There will be a huge mark on your file, electronic and paper file. It'll be extremely hard for you to get it in the future, when you may really need it.

[the_rickster]

Originally Posted by Jingwu3

Does anyone know whether its possible to receive EI being away from Canada?

I am planning to apply for EI soon but I need to be away from Canada for about 3 months for family reasons...is there anyway I can still receive regular benefits?

thanks alot

you get EI while you're "ready, willing and able" to work 5 days a week. being that you're out of the country, you're not ready willing or able.


dont even try to claim it, because they'll catch you. EI office checks your customs records.

[El Bastardo]

Like everyone else; I advise against this. During the 3 mos you're away you'll have to file at least 6 times. When they see that you've filed from a foreign IP multiple times it'll raise red flags. They'll call you in for an audit and want you to prove that you've been looking for work.

I wouldn't be surprised if they asked the CBSA to monitor if you've left or re-enter the country.

[the_rickster]

they check regardless. even if you leave the country for a day, you have to report it and you dont get paid for that day.

[03c0upe]

what about going across the border to go to the post office and coming right back?

[the_rickster]

call them and tell them your intentions.
unless you do it on the weekend, then you're going down on your own time.


the issue is that while you're on EI, you're supposed to be either looking for work, or getting training to further your education... and if you're going across the border, you're obviously not looking for work.

[03c0upe]

Originally Posted by the_rickster

call them and tell them your intentions.
unless you do it on the weekend, then you're going down on your own time.


the issue is that while you're on EI, you're supposed to be either looking for work, or getting training to further your education... and if you're going across the border, you're obviously not looking for work.

So on the weekends (sat sun) iam allowed to leave canada just for those two days since its my time?? And do they check on random ppl to see if they leave the country? Do you know how that works

[the_rickster]

you can do anything you want on weekends, since you're not being paid for them. to be on the safe side, i would call and tell them your intentions anyways.

to answer your question about random checks... there's nothing random about it... they check everyone who is receiving EI payments. you dont have to be secretive about it... just call the office and tell them when you're going... if it falls during a weekday, you won't be paid for that day.

[chileanwinehous]

go, have fun. This hell hole will be here when you get back. If you don't get caught then its a nice paid vacation you deserve.

[JDMStyo]

lol please update thread when you get caught

[wouwou]

Originally Posted by JDMStyo

lol please update thread when you get caught

OP will probably be too broke to own a PC by then

[InvisibleSoul]

Actually, I was wondering how about the technicalities of it.

I mean, with that example of just going across the border for an hour to pick up a package... do you have to write off that entire day in the report and say you were not ready and willing to work? I mean, even if you had a job and was working full time that day, you could still spend your lunch hour to go pick it up...

Or in my case, I went to Vegas in April. I left on Saturday, and came back Wednesday at like noon. On my report, I only said I was not ready and willing to work on the Monday and Tuesday, because my argument is that I could have still worked 8 hours on Wednesday if I had a full-time job, even though I got back at noon.

[68style]

Many years ago, a buddy was on EI for about a month... and in that time did a roadtrip across Canada and all of the U.S.... still got paid, they only called once on his cell (the only number provided them... on purpose for that reason) and asked if he was looking for work so he said he was and they hung up. It was funny because he was standing in a Vegas casino surrounded by slot machine noises hahaha

Given his experience, I do not think they check customs records and I think anything you've read otherwise is scare tactics. That said, you'd be hard pressed to pull it off for 3 months and being in a foreign country other than the U.S. would make you much more difficult to reach by cell too.

[!LittleDragon]

5 years ago, they found out through customs I was gone for a few days when I went to California and Nevada for some job interviews. Figured it was okay since I was there looking for work. Had to pay back the money. Bottom line, upon returning to Canada and they scan your passport, they'll know..

[Expresso]

Happened to a relative as well. Traveled out of country while on EI, and they called them in and wanted answers.

[quasi]

I'm actually pleased to hear this stuff, I'm glad there at least trying to catch the scammers. I know someone who had to pay back a shit load of EI with interest and rightfully so.