What should you do when you stopped working?

  1. Apply right after the day you stopped working. Do not wait for your Record of Employment (ROE). Application secures your benefit commencement week. ROE is a supporting document for processing office only. (What if I receive severance package?)
  2. Your first payment will not be paid immediately because of the 28 days processing time. Therefore, plan yourself financially ahead for at least 1 month.
  3. Start completing your EI weekly report once you received your Access Code letter mail from Service Canada.
  4. Register your Service Canada information account (My Service Canada Account) to keep track of the processing update.
  5. Call EI call centre if no update after 28 days from the day you apply. Thee phone number is 1-800-206-7218.

 Things to remember when applying for your EI benefit

  1. Your Record of Employment (ROE) is given by your former employer upon your separation from work. Currently, there are 2 types of ROE. Either it is the electronically generated (with serial number code starting with “W’ or “S”) or hand written (with serial number “E” or others). If your ROE is electronically generated, that means your employer has submitted the soft copy unto Service Canada, which you can print your PDF copy through My Service Canada Account. If it written copy, make sure to submit your original copy ASAP to the nearest Service Canada centre for transcription. A delay in submitting your ROE maybe delay the processing time of your EI application.
  2. Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is needed for your application. If your SIN is 900 series and you hold a work permit(s), make sure to submit your original copy of all your work permit(s) at Service Canada centre to prove your eligibility to work in Canada.
  3. Medical Certificate. If you are applying for sickness benefits, you must submit your doctor’s note at Service Canada centre to prove your illness. It is recommended to speak to your doctor to discuss the length of your recovery. Your expected recovery week must be more than 17 weeks (including 2 weeks waiting period) in order to receive your full sickness benefit weeks entitlement.

There may be other forms to submit depending on the type of benefit you are applying. Please visit Service Canada website for more details

=> Launch your Employment Insurance application <=
(You will be redirect to Service Canada EI application website)

What happens after I finish my EI application

Once you have completed your online EI application, you will be able to print a Confirmation page for your own reference. To follow-up on the status of your EI claim, you will have to provide your SIN to Service Canada call centre agents to track your file or by visiting My Service Canada Account through Canada.ca website.

It says the processing time is up to 28 days (4 weeks). Which means no payment after roughly a month later! If your claim is fairly simple, you should see your claim finalized within 2 weeks. If it requires many clarification or missing documentations, it will go up to 28 days or event beyond. If after 28 days and you still have not received any answer, you may call back Service Canada EI telephone inquiry line (1-800-206-7218) or visit Service Canada centre to see an agent. Note: neither agents from call centre or service centre are EI processing agent. They only act as messenger to help you chase after the status of your claim.

If you have extra documents to submit to EI processing office, you may either mail them to the designated address listed on their website (EI mailing address) or by dropping off the document at your local Service Canada centre for them to forward the document to EI processing office free of charge.

 

Extra Read: Latest EI claim processing time.

You will receive an Access Code letter, by mail, from Service Canada within a week after the date of your application. It gives you instruction what to do next about your EI claim. (Read more)

You can also register your EI online account through Service Canada website. It’s all long and painful registration process, but it’s all worth it because you can change/add your direct deposit info, address and view status of your claim online.

If you have financial concern while waiting for your EI payment. You will have to visit your local provincial or municipal social service centre for immediate financial assistance. (Read more)

 

=> Launch your Employment Insurance application <=
(You will be redirect to Service Canada EI application website)

 

You may visit Service Canada’s website for more details at Canada.ca