Discussions

So, quick question. What is everyone applying for through EI. It says if you self quarantine your 1 week is waived. Does this apply for everyone? I did not travel anywhere but I am self quarantined. So, do I apply for self quarantine or regular ei? Soes anyone know

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/how-to-apply-for-ei-sickness-benefits-and-the-new-emergency-worker-fund-1.4858089  
 
Are you just voluntarily staying home or actually shut down to watch someone or work is shut down?

So take a look at the service canada website. It tells you how to qualify for different leaves. I saw a great graphic on the different financial options on Facebook today. I'll try to attach a screenshot and hopefully that helps you figure out where you fit in.

Work has shut down. I saw that info on Facebook but I was not sure which one I would apply for. I am eligible for EI but not sure which one to apply for. I did not get a roe from work because we are closed due to COVID-19.

Contact your employer? They need to provide you with a ROE if they lay you off. Maybe they submitted them electronically instead of giving you a paper copy.

The government automatically receives the ROE’s. Yes you need your employer to do a “lay off” roe for sure.

How much would you make a week if you max out benefits? I’ve read like $573 per week but do you get taxed on that?

Yes EI is taxable income, they will deduct tax (not usually a huge amount), but not CPP or EI premiums. You will get a T4E for it at tax time next year to claim it like you do a T4.

If you were laid off due to no work then it’s regular. One week still applies unfortunately. If you are forced to quarantine due to travel or possible exposure the week is waived and you apply through a different benefit- sick benefit type thing.  
 
Employers are legally supposed to issue ROE no longer than 5 days after told of lay-off. This is our problem too. Lay-off was agreed to but no ROE as office staff is currently in quarantine.  
 
We can’t afford to wait forever for it either. There is a 1-800 number given when filling out online application if your employer doesn’t give ROE. I am guessing you will be on hold for hours just trying to get through.

Thank you RC123 this is what I was needing. I appreciate everyones help.

To you and your family. This is going to be a very trying time for everyone.  
 
I have emailed our mortgage provider to see about deferred payments. Nothing yet. I emailed our mortgage insurance provider to see if it covers lay off put not hopeful as I think it’s just life insurance. I noticed hydro is offering arrangements but all that does is end up with a huge bill in the end to try and pay.  
 
We had already made arrangements to cut other bills as winter is a slow to start with. This is supposed to be the beginning of the upswing with my job and side gig. It’s going to be a long time until that starts to happen unfortunately. Even once things do get back to normal it’s going to take people a long time to get back on track.

Has anyone had any luck trying to call EI? I’m calling regarding regular benefits that were applied for before all this covid stuff and when I dial the 800 number it doesn’t even ring...is there not a whole separate line for covid

I've heard it's near impossible to even get in the queue to be on hold. Try calling first thing in the morning. I was told people had luck calling at 820 and being on hold until 830. Also, you can check your service canada account and see if they received your ROE. How long ago did you apply?

If a person has been laid off as the business is temporarily closed due to covid-19, must that person use any sick time or vacation time up before being able to collect EI benefits? The person has not been in contact with anyone that has tested positive, nor have they traveled outside the country and is not sick themselves. Or can they save those sick day and vacation days for another time? Thanks in advance.

There was apparently 500,000 applications for EI last week - the busiest year in 2019 was 27,000. It will be difficult to get through for the next while, they are hopefully approving the financial package today at parliament.

Thats a lot of applications! I had applied in Feb and was told to call back after my 28 day waiting period if it hadn’t been updated on my Service Canada account so been trying since yesterday but it always says call failed or just doesn’t ring...I’ll try first thing in the AM!

So, I hope I am wrong and hope someone can clarify this for me. So, I go on EI because the business I worked for closed for CO-VID19 and I am still not being paid for the first week and I have to wait 3+ weeks to get a check for 2 weeks not 3 weeks. But, yet someone who left the country or people who have been in contact with someone who was out of the country does not have to wait and they get paid starting the day they file. I am sorry but if this is true how is this helping us? I know alot of people who live paycheck to paycheck and I am one who can not afford to lose a weeks worth of pay. Please tell me I am wrong and for once I hope I am.

Im self employed and normally inneligible for ei. Work has shut down for at least the coming month if not longer due to this covid outbreak but im completely lost in this process how to apply for help. Anyone have any advice or a link to point me in right direction? Ive tried navigating the gov. Website but im either not finding right place to go or missunderstanding how to proceed.

Yep you got that right. I too was laid off but because we are laid off due to lack of work we apply for regular benefits. There is the 1 week waiting period. It has not been waived from what I see. We get to claim it longer.  
 
Those who are quarantined, forced to stay home get to apply for sick benefits and no waiting period but it’s only for 15 weeks I think I read.  
 
Then the benefits that people who are self employed or parents being forced to stay home with kids - the new benefit they are going to be paying out isn’t active until April I believe.  
 
Yes I totally agree with you. All waiting periods should be waived.  
 
My problem is getting my ROE sent in. And even when it finally does get sent in from my employer how long is it going to take to start getting money.  
 
I will be calling around today trying to get our monthly payments deferred or reduced in some way. The 6 month mortgage deferral that was announced isn’t for all banks either. I imagine I will be spending my day on hold waiting to talk to people

It's a bit confusing right now. There is several scenarios that will apply:  
 
1) you have been laid off due to your business closing temporarily and have enough hours for reg EI, so apply for reg EI at the service Canada sight.  
 
2) you are in isolation or quarantined because of travel or being sick or looking after said person, you apply through service Canada for sick benefits  
 
3) you are self isolating to stay safe but are not sick, you don't have enough hours for reg EI, you are self employed or your employers said to stay home but not closed their doors you will apply for the extra benefit support through the CRA website and are to use the second phone line set up. This starts in April.  
 
If you try service Canada you will receive a busy signal most of the time (keep trying you may eventually get through but it can be a long wait on hold) . They have rehired a number of agents to deal with the applications and get to catch up! This will not happen overnight and will take time.  
 
This is all information received from the service Canada rep at the Brandon office! They are all doing the best they can and will answer questions! But remmeber of you have travelled or have been sick stay home and keep trying the phone line.  
 
Stay safe everyone!

My son is in a similar situation, not self employed, but have never been on EI. After 25ish yrs working is layed off. Asks me Q's, I know nothing about, so Q is. When he applied he did get a confirmation # but someone mentioned that he also should of got 4 numbers after all the application is done which would be easier for Revenue to look up if he has Q's providing of course if he can get thro

CJ - there is apparently something in the works for your situation but we won't know the details until April. Hang in there - hopefully the self-employed will see some help soon.

Will keep my eyes and ears on this thread and the news.

the wait period is now only one week, it used to be two weeks.

This changes everything for a lot of people . This was made law earlier today so the program is a go!  
 
The federal government has streamlined the COVID-19 emergency benefits program and says Canadians struggling financially can now expect payments within weeks.  
The application process is scheduled to open in early April, with individual income support payments amounting to about $2,000 a month expected to flow about 10 days later. The benefits will be available for four months.  
The government is streamlining the financial support regime as it struggles to cope with an unprecedented volume of employment insurance claims.  
The new program collapses two previously announced benefits — the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit — into one.  
 
 
 
Details in the attached link  
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-income-supports-covid19-1.5509247

It’s been a one week for awhile now BUT there’s no waiting period for covid19

changed it when they came into power.

Anyone know how long it takes for an ROE to show up electronically. Supposed to be right away but mine isn’t showing. Possibly a glitch in the system as it is crashing on occasion

Mine isnt showing up either. HR said they would put it through on Monday (Mar 23), but that I was able to start the EI stuff Friday. So as of Mar 22 my EI status is Under Review, but still no ROE showing up. I have no idea how this works as I havent had an ROE for over 10 years, and I cant remember what happened back then lol.

Thankyou much, 5cents worth.  
so much , worth 573.00 dollars a week.  
He finally figured that one out. But thanks agin.