Deferring EI

[nskatcv]

Case in Question

1. Person lost job due to mass layoff by Employer, so eligible for EI
2. Applied for EI, Service Canada approved payouts for 36 weeks, with a start (in Sep 2024), and end date (in 2026)
3. Person had to immediately go outside Canada (North America) for some unavoidable long trip (several months)

I believe the policy is that the person must be physically in Canada to receive payments.

Question is:

1. Can the person still get all his 36 EI payouts once he is back to Canada in mid-2025?
2. Does the person still need to fill online reporting, even he is outside, or can we start doing them once back in Canada?
3. Any other thing to watch out?

Thanks for reading and your help.

 

[Naturgrl]

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/while-receiving.html
1. No.The whole point is showing that you are actively looking for work, and able to work immediately in Canada. If going away for many months then you a) are not actively looking for work and b) not in Canada to be interviewed and start jobs. If you are not in Canada for many month then you don’t need EI.
2. Yes, you can only be outside Canada for 7 days while on EI.
3. Come back if you want EI.

 

[nskatcv]

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/while-receiving.html
1. No.The whole point is showing that you are actively looking for work, and able to work immediately in Canada. If going away for many months then you a) are not actively looking for work and b) not in Canada to be interviewed and start jobs. If you are not in Canada for many month then you don’t need EI.
2. Yes, you can only be outside Canada for 7 days while on EI.
3. Come back if you want EI.

Thanks for your response.

I do understand that the person needs to be in Canada to get EI. The question is that if the person is out of Canada, for say 15 weeks from now on, and then comes back. Will he still be able to begin collecting EI for the next 36 weeks (starting the day he came back to Canada)?

Given that the end date of the claim is an year (52 weeks).

 

[Naturgrl]

Thanks for your response.

I do understand that the person needs to be in Canada to get EI. The question is that if the person is out of Canada, for say 15 weeks from now on, and then comes back. Will he still be able to begin collecting EI for the next 36 weeks (starting the day he came back to Canada)?

Given that the end date of the claim is an year (52 weeks).

So EI will be cancelled if not in Canada. The whole point of EI is that you are out of work and actively looking. If you are not looking or in Canada, you lose the benefits. Did you read the link provided. Read - when payments stop.

Just because approved for that length doesn’t mean you wil use all the time. It is for job hunting in Canada and being available. Tell friend to reapply and see what happens.

 

[nskatcv]

So EI will be cancelled if not in Canada. The whole point of EI is that you are out of work and actively looking. If you are not looking or in Canada, you lose the benefits. Did you read the link provided. Read - when payments stop.

Just because approved for that length doesn’t mean you wil use all the time. It is for job hunting in Canada and being available. Tell friend to reapply and see what happens.

As long as I have your attention.

I did go through this document earlier too, and understand the stipulation of staying in Canada 'for' actively looking and 'being available' for joining a job if offered.

However, that section on 'When Payments Stop' I believe is for payments that have already started, and lists the conditions under which those will stop. But in this case, they haven't started at all.

When payments stop

You stop receiving benefits if:

• you receive all the weeks of benefits to which you were entitled (haven't received any)
• the payment timeframe during which you can receive benefits ends (hasn't ended)
• you stop filing your biweekly report (can keep doing those while outside, stating that still outside)
• you request a termination of your claim to file a new claim (won't do that)

The section on outside travel says,

If you travel outside of Canada

You’re not usually eligible to receive regular benefits while you’re away from Canada.

I interpret this as, while (for the period) the person is away from Canada, payments will not be made out. It doesn't say EI claim will be cancelled.

That is why I came here to pick brains, and know from experience, if an approved EI claim just gets reinstated when the person comes back to Canada, before the end date of the claim of course.

 

[Naturgrl]

As long as I have your attention.

I did go through this document earlier too, and understand the stipulation of staying in Canada 'for' actively looking and 'being available' for joining a job if offered.

However, that section on 'When Payments Stop' I believe is for payments that have already started, and lists the conditions under which those will stop. But in this case, they haven't started at all.

When payments stop

You stop receiving benefits if:

• you receive all the weeks of benefits to which you were entitled (haven't received any)
• the payment timeframe during which you can receive benefits ends (hasn't ended)
• you stop filing your biweekly report (can keep doing those while outside, stating that still outside)
• you request a termination of your claim to file a new claim (won't do that)

The section on outside travel says,

If you travel outside of Canada

You’re not usually eligible to receive regular benefits while you’re away from Canada.

I interpret this as, while (for the period) the person is away from Canada, payments will not be made out. It doesn't say EI claim will be cancelled.

That is why I came here to pick brains, and know from experience, if an approved EI claim just gets reinstated when the person comes back to Canada, before the end date of the claim of course.

But you have been approved for EI so if you don’t start claiming then cancelled. Filing a bi-weekly report is to show that you are in Canada and actively looking and able to start working immediately.

 

[nskatcv]

But you have been approved for EI so if you don’t start claiming then cancelled. Filing a bi-weekly report is to show that you are in Canada and actively looking and able to start working immediately.

Hmm. This rings a bell.

I am inclined to think that if the application had not been made now, and only after the return to Canada. But there is a 4 week deadline to file a claim after being laid off. So that is a dead end.

I guess the only recourse now is to keep filing the reports stating presence outside Canada, and let EI process the way they deem right.

Or something like cancelling this claim, and filing anew when back.

 

[nskatcv]

@Naturgrl

Just called Service Canada.

They said the person can continue the benefits when they are back (before the end of 52 weeks). So this is good, and something I hoped and expected.

But they also said that if the period of absence is 6 weeks consecutive, then online reporting is stopped, and one needs to call Service Canada to start doing those.