EI benefits of a PR working freelance for USA?

[una]

Hi,

I have a PR through my common law partner

I work remotely for a client in the USA, this is my main job, I do not work within Canada at this point. Next year I will file my first taxes here in Canada as a PR. Im pregnant and would like to receive EI next year. My question:

Am I eligible to receive EI and what (if any) kind of paperwork would I have to file for this?

Thank you

 

[scylla]

If you are working for a US company remotely then presumably you are paying into the US social system. In that case I believe you qualify for US employment insurance - but not Canadian (since you haven't paid into the Canadian system). To qualify for the Canadian system, you need to have accumulated 600 insurable working hours (i.e. 600 hours where you have paid into the Canadian system).

You can find information here on how to claim US benefits:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/information/outside_canada.shtml#How

 

[Alurra71]

Hi,

I have a PR through my common law partner

I work remotely for a client in the USA, this is my main job, I do not work within Canada at this point. Next year I will file my first taxes here in Canada as a PR. Im pregnant and would like to receive EI next year. My question:

Am I eligible to receive EI and what (if any) kind of paperwork would I have to file for this?

Thank you

I am 99.9% sure that the US does not given 'maternity leave' benefits as Canada does. Most of us in the US worked right up to the bitter end and if the employer did not have benefits available you took the hard knock of having no money coming in while on leave. You will likely find yourself in the same situation as, i'm assuming, you have been paying income taxes into the US. If you have not, then you have a more serious issue at hand than whether you can get unemployment insurance (which is what it's called in the US)

 

[Dejaavu]

Unless you have EI deductions from your payroll I do not think you would qualify.

My is wife is American and she was in the same situation therefore I took the whole 35 weeks of parental leave since I worked in Canada for a Canadian employer.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!

 

[una]

One thing I want to clarify: I will be paying taxes of my US job here in canada. There is a tax treaty btw USA and Canada that I would fall into. I do not have a working visa in the USA, Im working as a Canadian recident for a USA client.

I was hoping that this: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/sew/index.shtml

Would apply to me?

 

[scylla]

Have you read the eligibility criteria?

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/sew/eligibility.shtml

For the self employed rules to apply to you, you would have had to have registered with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission AND 12 moths needed to have passed since the registration. (Plus meet the other criteria outlined.)

This doesn't sound like the situation you're in. Or is it?

 

[Dejaavu]

Your best bet to find about whether you qualify is is to call Service Canada.

The best time to call them is at 8 am Monday to Friday. They will be able to tell you.

Or you can visit one of Service Canada offices and find out for sure.

 

[una]

Thank you, these answers are good and I think I will need to call Canada. But yes, to me it sounds like the 12 month period might mean Im too late.

Thank you!

 

[una]

Unless you have EI deductions from your payroll I do not think you would qualify.

My is wife is American and she was in the same situation therefore I took the whole 35 weeks of parental leave since I worked in Canada for a Canadian employer.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!

Thank you! One more question before I head to the office tomorrow:

My boyfriend is my sponsor for my PR (common-law) and he was told he was not allowed any social insurance while sponsoring me (which I find odd since people might want to start a family and all that). Do you know anything about this? He is canadian and has a canadian job so he would otherwise fall into the criteria.

Thanks, una

 

[scylla]

Thank you! One more question before I head to the office tomorrow:

My boyfriend is my sponsor for my PR (common-law) and he was told he was not allowed any social insurance while sponsoring me (which I find odd since people might want to start a family and all that). Do you know anything about this? He is canadian and has a canadian job so he would otherwise fall into the criteria.

Thanks, una

He's not allowed to go on social assistance. Welfare is social assistance. EI is not social assistance.

 

[una]

Ah....so there is hope ( :

thank you!