Difference between revisions of "Qualifying for Employment Insurance (8:III)"
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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= | {{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= June 24, 2021}} | ||
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = EI}} | {{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = EI}} | ||
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To qualify for EI benefits, a claimant must have worked a certain number of hours of insurable employment during the claimant’s qualifying period. The required number of hours may vary according to the location of the claimant, and the unemployment rate in the region they live. The definition of qualifying period is set out in s 8(1) of the ''EI Act''. This is usually the shorter of either: | To qualify for EI benefits, a claimant must have worked a certain number of hours of insurable employment during the claimant’s qualifying period. The required number of hours may vary according to the location of the claimant, and the unemployment rate in the region they live. The definition of qualifying period is set out in s 8(1) of the ''EI Act''. This is usually the shorter of either: | ||
a) the 52 weeks immediately before the benefit period commences under s 10(1); or | a) the 52 weeks immediately before the benefit period commences under s 10(1) (Due to Covid-19, if claimants received the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the 52-week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes)); or | ||
b) the period that begins on the first day of an immediately preceding benefit period and ends with the end of the week before the beginning of a benefit period under s 10(1). I.e., the period between the beginning of a prior claim and the beginning of the present claim. | b) the period that begins on the first day of an immediately preceding benefit period and ends with the end of the week before the beginning of a benefit period under s 10(1). I.e., the period between the beginning of a prior claim and the beginning of the present claim. | ||
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==== a) Major Attachment Claimants ==== | ==== a) Major Attachment Claimants ==== | ||
A major attachment claimant is defined in s 6(1) as a claimant who qualifies to receive benefits and who has 600 or more hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period. | A major attachment claimant is defined in s 6(1) as a claimant who qualifies to receive benefits and who has 600 or more hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period. Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes). | ||
Major attachment claimants are eligible for all types of “special” benefits (e.g. pregnancy, parental, and sickness). | Major attachment claimants are eligible for all types of “special” benefits (e.g. pregnancy, parental, and sickness). | ||
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==== b) Minor Attachment Claimants ==== | ==== b) Minor Attachment Claimants ==== | ||
A minor attachment claimant is defined in s 6(1) as a claimant who qualifies to receive benefits and has fewer than 600 hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period. | A minor attachment claimant is defined in s 6(1) as a claimant who qualifies to receive benefits and has fewer than 600 hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period. Due to Covid-19 claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 480 insured hours to help them meet the required 600 insured hours of work. As a result claimants who might not otherwise be eligible for special benefits may qualify. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes). | ||
Minor attachment claimants cannot receive most special benefits. | Minor attachment claimants cannot receive most special benefits. | ||
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=== 3. Hours Required === | === 3. Hours Required === | ||
Due to Covid-19, claimants will only need 120 insured hours to qualify for benefits because they will get a one-time credit of 300 insured hours to help meet the required 420 insured hours of work. Additionally, during Covid-19, a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1% is applied to all regions across Canada, if a claimant’s region is higher than 13.1% then the higher rate will be used to calculate benefits. (As of the time of writing, these changes are in effect until September 25, 2021. Please check the CRA website for potential extensions or changes). | |||
For claimants to receive the regular benefits, they must meet their '''s. 7 Table''' requirements during the qualifying period. | For claimants to receive the regular benefits, they must meet their '''s. 7 Table''' requirements during the qualifying period. | ||