Reconsideration of Employment Insurance Decisions (8:XII)

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

Before appealing to the Social Security Tribunal, a claimant must first submit a Request for Reconsideration to the EI Commission within 30 days. Upon receipt of a Request for Reconsideration, a Service Canada employee, other than the one who made the original decision, will review your case, including any new information provided in the Request. The Service Canada employee will also conduct any additional investigation that may be required, including clarifying the circumstances, and obtaining relevant documents related to the employment. The Service Canada employee will use this information to make the EI Commission’s final decision on the claimant’s claim.

The Request for Reconsideration form can be found at the following link: https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/Detail.html?Form=INS5210.

This request must be submitted to Service Canada within 30 days of the date the decision was communicated to the claimant. If the 30-day period has passed, a claimant may still submit a request for reconsideration with an explanation for the delay. The EI Commission will consider the reasons for the delay and decide whether to allow the request. This process is free of charge.

The Commission will not provide a copy of the claimant’s EI file when a Request for Reconsideration is submitted. Instead, the claimant must make a request for their file under the Privacy Act. This can be done in one of the following ways:

By mail: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-58-eng.asp

Online: https://atip-aiprp.apps.gc.ca/atip/welcome.do

Obtaining a copy of the claimant's file may be the only way to see material submitted by the employer, which will be especially important in cases where misconduct or just cause for leaving employment is the subject of the appeal.

The claimant will be informed in writing of the decision following the reconsideration. If the decision is unfavourable to the claimant, a Service Canada employee will provide a verbal explanation.

A. What can be Reconsidered (and Later Appealed)

Most decisions of the Commission may be reconsidered. For example, claimants are eligible to request a reconsideration if the original decision:

• refused EI benefits;
• ordered that EI benefits received be repaid;
• issued a warning letter or notice of violation; and/or
• imposed a penalty.

B. What cannot be Reconsidered (and Later Appealed)

The following issues cannot be reconsidered:

• certain discretionary benefits, such as training courses, employment (training) benefits, and work-sharing, EI Act ss. 24, 25, and 64;
• insurability issues, which are subject to a separate decision-making and appeal process that must be appealed to the Minister of National Revenue at the Tax Court. (see Section III.A: Insurable Employment, and ss. 90–105 of the EI Act);
• decisions concerning the write-off of debt from overpayment or penalty (EI Act, s. 112.1)

1. Insurability Decisions

Certain decisions concerning “insurable employment” must be appealed to the CRA or the Minister of National Revenue. These appeals can be found in s. 90(1) of the EI Act.

For an example of the appeal process, consult McPhee v Minister of National Revenue, 2005 TCC 502. In deciding whether the claimant was an employee or an independent contractor, the court allowed a consideration of the parties’ intentions.

It is crucial to analyze the dispute and file the correct type of appeal. In doubtful cases, it can be wise to do both – file an appeal and ask the CRA for a ruling.

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