Obligation to support - does this include Maternity Pay

[mapleleaf2014]

Hi, As a new resident I am not sure if maternity benefits and/or child benefits would not be applicable for the initial 3 years as a resident - or is this just employment benefits? Thank you.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi, As a new resident I am not sure if maternity benefits and/or child benefits would not be applicable for the initial 3 years as a resident - or is this just employment benefits? Thank you.

Wrong on both counts. A PR, as long as they have sufficient hours of employment is entitled to benefits under EI for both unemployment and maternity leave. EI is an insurance scheme, you pay in when you work and collect when you are not working.

 

[mapleleaf2014]

Ok that's interesting. I assumed that everything that is called a benefit was included in the no claims benefts for PR. What are the benefits that can't be claimed for then?
I read up a bit online and it looks like to get EI or Maternity insurance you have to sign up a year in advance. Do you know if it applies to those with PR?
Thank you.

 

[Leon]

Ok that's interesting. I assumed that everything that is called a benefit was included in the no claims benefts for PR. What are the benefits that can't be claimed for then?
I read up a bit online and it looks like to get EI or Maternity insurance you have to sign up a year in advance. Do you know if it applies to those with PR?
Thank you.

You don't actually sign up for EI. You gain the right to those payments through working in Canada. Your employer is obligated to withhold a certain percent of your wages for your EI contributions and your eligibility depends on how many hours you have worked that you paid contributions from.

For maternity or parental benefits, you need to have worked 600 hrs. in the previous 12 months. For regular benefits, it is between 420 and 700 hours you need to have, depending on the unemployment rate in your region.

 

[mapleleaf2014]

You don't actually sign up for EI. You gain the right to those payments through working in Canada. Your employer is obligated to withhold a certain percent of your wages for your EI contributions and your eligibility depends on how many hours you have worked that you paid contributions from.

For maternity or parental benefits, you need to have worked 600 hrs. in the previous 12 months. For regular benefits, it is between 420 and 700 hours you need to have, depending on the unemployment rate in your region.

OK. I would be self-employed though and the only information I could find gave examples for people in different professions who all signed up at least 12 months prior to starting a family.
I am still not clear as to what benefits PRs are not eligible for. Can you clarify?

 

[Leon]

OK. I would be self-employed though and the only information I could find gave examples for people in different professions who all signed up at least 12 months prior to starting a family.
I am still not clear as to what benefits PRs are not eligible for. Can you clarify?

For self-employed, read this page: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/sew/index.shtml

PR's in Canada have the same right as Canadians, towards benefits and everything else, except for that they can't vote and they may be barred from certain government jobs.

 

[mapleleaf2014]

OK Thank you. I have checked out the link you sent and it also says that you can claim after 12 months of registering with Service Canada, maybe this is for self-employed only.
I am pretty sure that when I applied for residency my partner had to sign saying that he would pay any benefits back if they were claimed within three years of the residency being awarded. Did I get this wrong?

 

[rhcohen2014]

I am pretty sure that when I applied for residency my partner had to sign saying that he would pay any benefits back if they were claimed within three years of the residency being awarded. Did I get this wrong?

that is specifically for WELFARE, NOT Mat leave or EI. As I understand it, as a worker in Canada and a resident, you will be paying into those funds (whether self employed or not), so that in the future you will be able to take it back out. Welfare is different, and i don't think it's somthing that citizens pay into specifically. Rather i think it's a fund provided by the government whether it's collected from taxes or provided by allocation of government funds. Essentially, it's money the government gives a citizen if they can't support themselves.

For example: when a canadian get's their paycheck, an employer will take money from their earnings for EI, which I believe mat leave is a part of. In no place does an employee get a deduction to pay into the welfare system. The money goes towards taxes, which the government then distributes to various needs. Another way to look at it is: EI and Mat leave is already money earned by a person, Welfare is money that is not earned, rather it's given away.

EI and Mat leave are not associated with welfare, which is the government benefit canada requires a sponsor to pay back if used within the specified years.

 

[mapleleaf2014]

ok thank you for clarifying that is very helpful!