Advice needed for wife who has had her hours reduced and is a PR.

[Tmcdchef87]

Hello everyone,

My wife is a new permanent resident to Canada (back in October). She does not qualify for EI and is an office administrator. Her hours have been drastically cut to appx. 8-10 hours a week (she does invoicing at home). I am luckily still employed but this is putting a massive strain on our finances.

With her reduced hours and no EI, would she still qualify for the federal emergency care benefit?

The other big question is; is this a form of social assistance that I have to repay since I sponsored my wife? I hope it is not...

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DiiDii]

There is no time limit if the individual is laid off due to Covid-19. It says it on the website. EI is not Welfare, so no you won't owe.
Look on the site and have her apply. I think she would have to get laid off fully. That or Other major chains (Walmart etc) are hiring part time right now all over Canada. That's another option.

 

[Copingwithlife]

There is no time limit if the individual is laid off due to Covid-19. It says it on the website. EI is not Welfare, so no you won't owe.
Look on the site and have her apply. I think she would have to get laid off fully. That or Other major chains (Walmart etc) are hiring part time right now all over Canada. That's another option.

No, there’s a supplementary income top up, if ones hours have been reduced

 

[Tmcdchef87]

Please reread what I wrote. She does not qualify for EI.

 

[Tmcdchef87]

No, there’s a supplementary income top up, if ones hours have been reduced

Would this count as a form of social assistance, the emergency care benefit? I'm unable to find information

 

[Mice]

Hello everyone,

My wife is a new permanent resident to Canada (back in October). She does not qualify for EI and is an office administrator. Her hours have been drastically cut to appx. 8-10 hours a week (she does invoicing at home). I am luckily still employed but this is putting a massive strain on our finances.

With her reduced hours and no EI, would she still qualify for the federal emergency care benefit?

The other big question is; is this a form of social assistance that I have to repay since I sponsored my wife? I hope it is not...

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

it's not social assistance.
The federal emergency care benefit, they have new announcement today : people who are not working due to COVID-19, regardless of whether they are unwell. On the other hand, support Canadians who are sick, in quarantine, or are looking after a family member or child.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/introduces-canada-emergency-response-benefit-to-help-workers-and-businesses.html

 

[Tmcdchef87]

Excellent. Thank you. I hope this covers her reduced hours. It does not say so on the link

 

[canuck78]

Excellent. Thank you. I hope this covers her reduced hours. It does not say so on the link

You will see whether she qualifies because she may not have worked 600 hours yet. There are special programs that are not typical EI. Depending on how much she makes it may make sense to get laid off. EI doesn’t replace your full income amount so you will have to calculate what is best. It is only a partial payment of you actual income. More information will be available soon.

 

[DiiDii]

Please reread what I wrote. She does not qualify for EI.

The same benefit you asked about is a part of the EI program under the circumstances of this emergency. So I did answer your question. Getting assistance through this program which you will have to apply for through the same division that provides EI... is not considered welfare. Which is exactly what I said. No need to get rude was just trying to help. But since you found the other answers more useful. Enjoy your day.

 

[DiiDii]

You will see whether she qualifies because she may not have worked 600 hours yet. There are special programs that are not typical EI. Depending on how much she makes it may make sense to get laid off. EI doesn’t replace your full income amount so you will have to calculate what is best. It is only a partial payment of you actual income. More information will be available soon.

With the new initiative for covidthere is no minimum hours requirement. That's what I was trying to explain but I guess they can figure it out on their own.

 

[Tmcdchef87]

The same benefit you asked about is a part of the EI program under the circumstances of this emergency. So I did answer your question. Getting assistance through this program which you will have to apply for through the same division that provides EI... is not considered welfare. Which is exactly what I said. No need to get rude was just trying to help. But since you found the other answers more useful. Enjoy your day.

My apologies. I honestly had no idea. Was not trying to be rude at all, you'll have to excuse me for thinking that! Not my intention.

So I tried to find what you said on the Government website and there is no mention of that at all. If you're not too mad at me P) can you provide a link to what you were saying?

 

[DiiDii]

My apologies. I honestly had no idea. Was not trying to be rude at all, you'll have to excuse me for thinking that! Not my intention.

So I tried to find what you said on the Government website and there is no mention of that at all. If you're not too mad at me P) can you provide a link to what you were saying?

Something else was just approved today. Better for your wife. But I think its for a complete layoff...

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/introduces-canada-emergency-response-benefit-to-help-workers-and-businesses.html

Let me know if that helps you.

 

[canuck78]

With the new initiative for covidthere is no minimum hours requirement. That's what I was trying to explain but I guess they can figure it out on their own.

Agree but it is not the typical EI as I said there are other initiatives which she may qualify for. Information has started being released today. It is unclear whether some one who has only had 8-10 hours cut will qualify or being laid off may be better.

 

[Tmcdchef87]

Shes getting 4 hours of work a week at home doing invoices. I'm sure the government will constitute that as a "layoff."

 

[Mice]

Shes getting 4 hours of work a week at home doing invoices. I'm sure the government will constitute that as a "layoff."

If you want to be count "layoff", you should get Record of Employment with code A.
If It does not say so on the link cover your wife reduced hours, it mean your wife doesn't qualify for that benefits.
You can wait if the government issue new policies for her, or she can talk with her employer to get solutions.
We here read many sources, it's exactly EI is not social assistance. You can search by your own on CIC website they have to confirm.