Please be advised that this site is not affiliated with the Service Canada office. Â
It was created to provide general EI information only.
Financial dire need situation
EI claimants may only request for dire need after the promised 28 days processing time frame had elapsed. You may call EI call centre or visit your local Service Canada centre to discuss your financial situation. The agent will have to evaluate your situation to find out if they can escalate your file to dire need situation. If you have already reached the 3rd follow up, your file is already consider as high priority, therefore there is no need to place dire need request.
If you are experiencing financial hardship while waiting for your 28 days of EI processing time. Unfortunately, there are not many ways for EI processing to speed up your application process within the promised 28 days processing time frame. This is the reason why you will have to rely on social services for immediate financial assistance.
For example, in the province of Ontario, social service programs are delivered through Ministry of Community and Social Services. Ontario Works program can be accessed online, by phone or in person. Ontario Works will ask you to fill an Assignment of Benefits form that gives consent for EI office to first reimburse your OW amount back with your first few weeks of entitlement payments once your claim is finalized. Â
Please refer to your province’s social service website for details.
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- ManitobaÂ
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
More reading: EI Reporting Step by Step
Recommend Read: 4 quick steps to speak to Passport Canada agent
Looking for affordable, reliable dental coverage in Canada? Visit DentalCarePlanCanada.ca to explore flexible dental care plans designed to fit your needs and budget. Whether you’re an individual, family, or senior, our plans offer peace of mind and help you save on essential dental services. Don’t wait—your smile deserves the best care at the best price!
Need a Canadian passport or looking to renew one hassle-free? Visit ServiceCanadaPassport.ca for easy-to-follow guidance, step-by-step application support, and the latest updates on passport services across Canada. Save time, avoid confusion, and get everything you need in one convenient place!
* * * * Most viewed topics * * * *
Renew Your Canadian Dental Care Plan Coverage *(new)
2025 Canada Child Benefit payment dates
Check the status of my Canadian passport application
Tim magee
February 28, 2022 1:14 pmIt would be ice to talk to some and get answers
E.I. consultant
February 28, 2022 5:10 pmHi Tim,
Every EI claim is processed by an EI claim agent who is working behind the scene, therefore the people that you speak with on the phone or at the local service Canada centres are information agents only, them and their supervisor or manager are not processing office staff, therefore there is no much help the information centre agents can do at local Service Canada office.
Your best bet is still to try to speak to EI call centre agent, some agent has minimal transactional power to help finalize an EI claim.
Aaron
UnemploymentCanada.ca Team
Jennifer
December 2, 2022 9:51 amEI claims person Melanie has had me wait for over a month, approximately 6 week’s for my EI claim to be approved. Its causing tremendous financial hardship. It would be nice if these people could put themselves in our shoes and give us results in a more reasonable time frame. It’s like they don’t care what hardship they put you through cause these agents at EI have a job. They have no clue what its like for us clients.
Tried asking for a manager multiple times. They won’t let you speak to one
Lois
February 14, 2023 3:51 pmSo it has been over 60 days and my son has not received ei money yet. He didn’t file immediately after layoff because his lawyer was putting something in place with the court to prevent his ex from receiving half of his ei, as she has been overpaid. He filed as soon as he was sure she wouldnt get it. He has been doing weekly reports and wasn’t allowed to file his last report. He was told today that he is ineligible and there is a 4 week waiting period not a one or two week waiting period. He talked to someone in escalations and she told him it would be under review. He is doing part time work and has claimed his earnings on his report. He can’t pay his rent, food or hydro. He has been living off his last paycheck from early December!