Timing for Reporting on Employment Insurance (8:X)

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 8, 2024.

Individuals should pay special attention to report due dates. Each claim has its own due date, and the specific timing for meeting these due dates can differ between the telephone, internet, and paper systems.

Claimants must complete their reports throughout the claim period whether or not they are receiving benefits (for example, during the waiting period or a period of disqualification). When an appeal is pending, reports must continue to be made because, if the appeal is successful, the claimant may find that there will be no payments for any week which no report had been made (EI Regulations, s. 26).

Individuals on maternity, parental, and sickness benefits have a responsibility to report if they earn anything, but they do not have a responsibility to make routine reports.

NOTE: Workers whose weekly income amounts tend to fluctuate (e.g., trade workers) should try to estimate as carefully as possible when providing an income figure. Those claimants who either err on the side of caution by declaring an amount that is too high or those who under-declare their actual income may be deemed by the Commission as providing “false or misleading information” and may incur penalties. The best way to avoid penalties is to always inform the Commission of the exact amount as soon as it is known to be correct. Also, an appeal should be filed immediately if a claimant is penalized for an inaccurate estimate of weekly earnings. The test for a penalty is that the claimant knew that the information they were giving was false. Honest attempts to predict actual earnings should not lead to penalties, even when it results in an overpayment of benefits.

A. Documents

It is generally a good idea to fill in all the documents the Commission requires and to return them immediately, since failure to do so may involve delay, if not disentitlement. Keep copies of all documents in chronological order.

B. Delay

One of the greatest difficulties with EI is delay. Often the delays are related to report cards, and, in certain cases, it is possible to get the insurance officer to use their “backup manual pay system” rather than waiting for the computer. If this is done, the claimant may get their money quickly.

Another solution to delay may often be to hassle the Commission. In extreme cases, you may wish to consider writing to the Minister (Employment and Immigration) with copies to the claimant’s Member of Parliament, or to opposition critics. See Chapter 5: Public Complaints Procedure.

C. Self-Employment While Claiming EI

Unlike employees, self-employed people and independent contractors are not automatically covered by the EI system. These workers have the option of opting into the EI system, in which case they may be entitled to receive certain special benefits, but not regular benefits.

Even though self-employed individuals and independent contractors are not automatically covered by the EI system, claimants may get into trouble if they try to start up a business while collecting EI after losing their job. Contrary to many claimants’ beliefs, self-employment amounts to “working” within the meaning of the question on the weekly reports, even if the person has no expectation of receiving any income from it. Section 30 of the EI Regulations provides that, in most cases, a claimant engaged in self-employment is deemed to have worked a full week, unless the self employment is “so minor in extent that a person would not normally follow it as a principal means of livelihood.” Failure to report such activity will usually lead to overpayments and penalties, or charges for misrepresentation. Decisions by the Commission on overpayment and/or the imposition of penalties should always be appealed.

If a claimant wishes to start a business while on EI, they should contact the Commission before doing anything to pursue self-employment. Special benefits may be available if the claimant enters an approved self-employment agreement for the development and implementation of a business plan.

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