Black-Berry said:
I have a question for everyone or anyone who would klnow. If i collect Unemployment Insurance say if i got pregnant is that a form of social assitance?. I have been contributing some money into this and EI has been coming out of my paycheck. Am just wondering if because its been conming out of my paycheck if its considered or if my hubby will have to pay back ?? Someone please let me know .. just curious.
EI is not social assistance. However, you need to have worked 600 hours before you are eligible for the benefit....
From the website:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/special.shtml
Who is eligible?
To be entitled to maternity, parental or sickness benefits you must show that:
your regular weekly earnings have been decreased by more than 40%; and
you have accumulated 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. This period is called the qualifying period.
If you have been paid EI benefits in the past and you received a written notice, for example, a warning letter and a Notice of Violaiton, OR a penalty and a Notice of Violation , for making a false statement, the required number of hours worked to claim maternity, parental and sickness benefits could be higher.
Self-employed people who register for the EI program may also be eligible to receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits.
Qualifying period
The qualifying period is the shorter of:
the 52 week-period immediately before the start date of a claim, or
the period since the start of a previous EI claim if that claim had started during the 52 week-period.
In certain situations, the qualifying period may be extended up to 104 weeks.
Hope that helps!
One thing that scares me is that on mat leave EI you will receive only 55% of your income. I am not looking forward to that!