[Hondaracer]

So how does EI work? can you get it if you quit a job or only if you are laid off or fired?

how long do you get EI for once your on it? and how much of the wage you were getting previously do you get?

also does going on EI effect your work history, social insurance, credit, etc.?

[El Bastardo]

You can't get EI if you quit a job. Not if you're fired either. It can only happen if you're laid off.

Typically EI is 70% of your wages and you should get it for around 10 months. Some people have found that they're having their benefits extended by about a month tho.

In this job market being on EI is understandable. If an employer asks about a gap in your employment just saying that you were on EI is pretty much understandable.

Oh, and EI doesn't affect your credit because it isn't a loan. This is a fund you've paid into with every paycheque you've ever gotten. This is you getting the money back out.

[Hondaracer]

awsome thanks for the info, i have no intention on going on EI, just curious as to how it worked

[46_valentinor]

can u still get EI if you're part-time? i work 5 days a week a bit more than 40 hours a week and my employer still isn't willing to change me to full-time nor give me a raise after the 3 month probation and after obtaining my forklift and power jack license...!!!

[MrBlonde]

here's how EI works.

you pay into it your whole life.

you fall on hard times, and apply for assistance. and the staff at the EI office are the people who ignore you.

on your way out the office you hold the door open for a single mother with 5 screaming kids who has never worked an hard day in her life and, for some reason, is entitled to the benefits THAT YOU PAY INTO yet do not qualify for.

sound about right?

[hotjoint]

I've heard a few stories of people getting ei when they were fired, they made up some bs like the company wasnt giving them a chance to learn and understand everything and terminated them too quickly

[Soundy]

^You can sometimes (often) claim EI if you're terminated "without cause". Terminated "with cause", you're pretty much guaranteed not to qualify.

It's not as simple as just sitting back and collecting cheques, tho...

First, if you've received any severance, vacation payout, etc., that counts against when the EI starts. For example, if you got four weeks' pay as severance, your EI doesn't start until after those four weeks. They'll know, too, because you have to submit your ROE when you apply, and your (ex) employer has to put all that on your ROE.

Second, you have to be looking for work while you're on EI. You have to submit weekly forms stating that you have been looking for work, haven't been out of the country, etc. (a lot of people fudge this, as it's just "yes or no" checkboxes on the form, but they DO check up sometimes). They require you to keep a record of job-hunting activities as well - places applies to, people contacted, dates and times, etc. I've never been asked for those records when I've been on EI, but I know people who have, and the EI folks get a little testy if you don't have it.

Third, you have to report any income you do make, and that's deducted from your EI. Say you're getting $700/week from EI, and you do some part-time work and collect $300 for that... you tell EI, and they only send you $400 for that week. There are limits - I think 80% or something: 80% of $700 is $560, so if you make $600 for that week, they still only deduct the max $560. (I don't know if 80% is the exact number, but it's something like that).

A lot of people do work under-the-table for cash and don't report it... don't know anyone who's been caught at that, personally, but I know they can deduct it after the fact if they do find out.

[saucywoman]

sometimes you can get EI if you quit but it's always better to ask them first. I know the EI office here would allow you to claim EI if you quit your job at the local call center because that was a horrible place to work and it had a huge turnover rate.

[Quicksilver]

you are eligible for EI if you quit your job for safety reasons as well

[winson604]

Probably a no brainer but if you get laid off and get some kind of package your EI will not kick in as fast as if you didn't get said package because that package acts sort of like EI and you really didn't think our government was that generous did you?

[WakeMeUp]

EI is the governments' fix to the assumption that the citizens don't know how to take care of their personal finances, and think on their own. It assumes we're too stupid to "save for a rainy day" or save/invest part of our earnings. It's them "protecting" us from ourselves.

It's a complete waste for the majority of people, and a detriment to the economy as the whole.

[fliptuner]

Second, you have to be looking for work while you're on EI. You have to submit weekly forms stating that you have been looking for work, haven't been out of the country, etc. (a lot of people fudge this, as it's just "yes or no" checkboxes on the form, but they DO check up sometimes). They require you to keep a record of job-hunting activities as well - places applies to, people contacted, dates and times, etc. I've never been asked for those records when I've been on EI, but I know people who have, and the EI folks get a little testy if you don't have it.


This depends on whether you're temporarily laid off or permanent. I'm on temp. lay off and they don't ask if I've been looking.

You have to be available for work during weekdays and they DO check flight records. If you claim that you've been away (say for 1 week) and are eligible for 35 weeks, they just won't pay you for that week but will tack it on to the end. Point being, DON'T LIE about being away if you've crossed a border or went via plane. The penalty could include 300% of the amount paid while you were gone and denial of your remaining benefits.

[raygunpk]

It is actually 55% of your salary. There is no set time on how long you will get benefits, it is determined by how many hours you have input in the last 52 weeks and the unemployment rate in your region.

If you work part time, you only get $50 or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Anything earned above that number is deducted from your benefits.

[nipples]

i work 6 months, tell my boss to lay me off, get the money, have him hire me again, and repeat the whole processs. been doing that for the past 24years

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

i work 6 months, tell my boss to lay me off, get the money, have him hire me again, and repeat the whole processs. been doing that for the past 24years

hahaha fucking funny guy.

[cdizzle_996]

How about this. I asked my boss for a "leave of absense" because Im going back to school to start an apprenticeship in 3 weeks. He didnt grant me the leave so now on my ROE, its going to say that I quit on my own will. Is there anyway I can collect EI?

[El Bastardo]

It is actually 55% of your salary. There is no set time on how long you will get benefits, it is determined by how many hours you have input in the last 52 weeks and the unemployment rate in your region.


Aha. Thanks

i work 6 months, tell my boss to lay me off, get the money, have him hire me again, and repeat the whole processs. been doing that for the past 24years

I knew a guy who did that every year. He drove a septic sucker and when work got quiet he'd go on EI for about four or five months, then he'd come back to work.

[Soundy]

How about this. I asked my boss for a "leave of absense" because Im going back to school to start an apprenticeship in 3 weeks. He didnt grant me the leave so now on my ROE, its going to say that I quit on my own will. Is there anyway I can collect EI?

Probably, because you have a valid reason. In fact, in a lot of trades, EI will provide money towards your training. You should contact them and find out if there's anything available.

[nipples]

How about this. I asked my boss for a "leave of absense" because Im going back to school to start an apprenticeship in 3 weeks. He didnt grant me the leave so now on my ROE, its going to say that I quit on my own will. Is there anyway I can collect EI?

yes you can. i did the same thing. file a dispute with ESB. first thing first, print off the dispute resolution form from them, and have a sit down with your boss asking him to change it. he should comply. if he doesnt, you can go ahead with the ESB form and let them deal with him directly. he won't like it, but too fuckin bad.

got my severance cheque within 1hr of speaking with ESB

[quasi]

yes you can. i did the same thing. file a dispute with ESB. first thing first, print off the dispute resolution form from them, and have a sit down with your boss asking him to change it. he should comply. if he doesnt, you can go ahead with the ESB form and let them deal with him directly. he won't like it, but too fuckin bad.

got my severance cheque within 1hr of speaking with ESB

Severance sure but he can't collect EI well going to school unless it's a program or upgrading that EI set him up with.

[Soundy]

Even if he has to quit, he may still be able to get EI *because* he quit to go to school (ie. a valid reason for quitting). If he's attending school, he won't have to look for work on a weekly basis. *AND* if it's an approved course, he MAY be able to get EI to pay for that as well.

Which is why I suggested calling them to find out. If he tells EI that he asked for a leave of absence to attend training, and ended up having to quit, chance are they'll be pretty supportive.

[cdizzle_996]

Yes, I did ask the company that I've been at for 2.5 years for a leave of absence and they basically told me. I have a fairly important position, and I think its come down to their just bitter over the situation. I was accepted into a welding apprenticeship which has direct ties to my work, but because of the econamy they cannot support it.

[Soundy]

A leave of absence usually means they don't pay you, but you still keep your position on your return... I don't see how the economy would cause such hardship for them to give you the leave.

[cdizzle_996]

Exactly. I actually even said, that I'd return to the company with 0 senority, and as a laborer and they still turned it down.

[Levitron]

What about if you're on contract and the contract ends? Is this eligible too?

[fliptuner]

What about if you're on contract and the contract ends? Is this eligible too?

If you've been paying into EI, yes. Not if you're self employed.

[the_rickster]

EI is the governments' fix to the assumption that the citizens don't know how to take care of their personal finances, and think on their own. It assumes we're too stupid to "save for a rainy day" or save/invest part of our earnings. It's them "protecting" us from ourselves.

It's a complete waste for the majority of people, and a detriment to the economy as the whole.

no, it's a way to supplement your income so you don't have to dip into your savings account while you search for a new job. its a way to protect tax paying citizens from their employers, not themselves.... which is why you dont qualify if you quit or get fired w/ cause.


and even with cause, you can still argue it and have a good chance of winning, because "just cause" has to be proven, and most employers don't care to fight it.


and as far as it being a detriment to the economy: the EI program has billions and billions of dollars in surplus cash.

[alex.w *//]

if u are going to school soon full time. you can quit your job if you have worked 900 hours already and you will get paid 33 weeks of ei

[Levitron]

If you've been paying into EI, yes. Not if you're self employed.

I've been part time (not the contract) for the past few years and now on a contract (employed by a company) for the next while. I am guessing then I should be eligible.

[quasi]

no, it's a way to supplement your income so you don't have to dip into your savings account while you search for a new job. its a way to protect tax paying citizens from their employers, not themselves.... which is why you dont qualify if you quit or get fired w/ cause.


and even with cause, you can still argue it and have a good chance of winning, because "just cause" has to be proven, and most employers don't care to fight it.


and as far as it being a detriment to the economy: the EI program has billions and billions of dollars in surplus cash.

I think his point was if the average Canadian took the money they paid into EI and invested it they would be better off in the long run. The reason the Government is saving you from yourself is because most people would just spend that money and not save it for that rainy day.

[sas]

if u are going to school soon full time. you can quit your job if you have worked 900 hours already and you will get paid 33 weeks of ei

What? You can go to school Full time and be on EI? Wouldn't they argue, you should be looking for a job etc..

[Soundy]

What? You can go to school Full time and be on EI? Wouldn't they argue, you should be looking for a job etc..

It depends on the schooling. For most trades, at least, EI considered that you're improving your skills and thus your marketability, thus (theoretically) making it easier for you to get a job afterward.

Like I said before, not only will they often allow you to collect EI during training, but they will actually pay for that training in certain instances.

[gianttama]

it also depends on if u were referred by the commission to take the training, how is your availability to work, what kind of job are you looking for, is your class schedule flexible....etc.

so yes, there are cases they will pay you when u at studying at the same time, but that doesn't happen often if u are talking about post-sec school, it rarely happens.

[WakeMeUp]

I think his point was if the average Canadian took the money they paid into EI and invested it they would be better off in the long run. The reason the Government is saving you from yourself is because most people would just spend that money and not save it for that rainy day.

Yes, that's what i was saying. Obviously some people would get into tough situations, but people would learn and adapt and over time the average person would be better off. Sink or swim. I think it's always better when you decide how to spend your earnings rather than the government deciding.