How to appeal an EI decision?

Sometimes, your EI application may not be approved for different reasons. Most common reasons are, lack of insurable hours, reason of separation from work or insufficient documentations. If this situation happened to you, don’t be discouraged yet. There are ways to appeal on your entitlement before paying for legal service to step in. Here are the steps to take.

1. In a situation where you have delayed your EI application, meaning beyond the 3 weeks grace period since job separation, you can fill in an “Antedate” form. You will have to submit it at local Service Canada centre. It will take up to 21 days (from the day the form is submitted) for processing office to determine if your reason of late application is justifiable. If yes, your EI claim will be pushed back to earlier date and you will be reimbursed of the missing weeks in one lump-sum payment.

2. You have been denied benefit for specific reason written from Service Canada benefits officer. Let’s be clear, to qualify for special benefits (e.g. sickness, maternity or parental) you need to accumulate at least 600 insurable hours written on your ROE. In this circumstance, don’t try to appeal if you know you didn’t accumulate enough hours to meet the criteria for benefit. However, if for some reason that there are a missing ROE that has not been captured during calculation process, you need to file a Request for Reconsideration form to explain to Service Canada to reconsider your claim eligibility.

3. For any reason that you believe you are eligible to receive benefit. You are more than welcome to file the Request for Reconsideration at anytime within 30 days after you have received your decision letter from Service Canada.

Please drop off your Request for Reconsideration at the nearest Service Canada centre for faster process.