How to renew or re-activate my EI claim

Renewing an EI claim

The claim renewal process is the same procedure as when you apply your first EI application online. There is no option for you to choose if you want to re-activate your EI claim. You will have to complete the exact same online questionnaire, the only difference this time is that you have to input your most recent work information.

You will have to wait for about 3-4 weeks before your claim is fully re-activated. There will be no EI access code letter mailed to you. Therefore, to find out if your claim is activated, you may log into the EI online reporting webpage to see if you can complete your report. If so, then your claim has been activated.

Your new EI application will automatically be considered as an renewal claim if you have applied an EI benefits claim within the past 52 weeks, and there are still weeks payable to you left. The EI system will reactivate your existing claim and pay you at the existing weekly benefits rate.

If you prefer to end your existing claim and begin another EI claim or you would like to consult your option with EI agent, do not start the online application yet. You must contact EI call centre by calling 1 800 206-7218 (Read: How to contact EI call centre)

Note: Your decision to terminate a claim is final and cannot be revert back. The following information does not apply to you if you are applying for fishing benefits.

Worked part-time while on EI

If you have been working part-time during your existing claim, you may be able to establish a new claim when this claim runs out. Certain conditions apply:

• To establish a new claim, you must have enough insurable hours and meet the new qualifying conditions.
• If you start a new claim instead of reactivating your existing claim, the remaining weeks payable on the existing claim will be lost.
• You must serve a one week unpaid waiting period on a new claim before you are entitled to receive payment.

You may visit Service Canada’s website My Service Canada Account to verify if you have served your waiting period and to view the number of weeks still payable on your existing claim.

Before making any decision, we advise you to contact EI call centre to learn about the pro and con of starting a new claim.

More Reading: EI Reporting Step by step.

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