Your Employment Insurance Regular Benefits Application Checklist
NOTE: Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.
Use this checklist to help guide you through the application process for Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits.
Remember!
Do not leave personal information where others can see it. Safeguard your documents to avoid fraud and identity theft. Also, make sure to properly log out when leaving the computer. If you are not sure how to do this, a Service Canada representative can help you.
Information you need to apply
Make sure your information is accurate before submitting it. A common mistake, like misspelling your mother's maiden name, can delay the processing of your claim.
To complete the online EI application, you will need the following information:
- your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
- your mother's maiden name;
Did you know?
A common error, such as misspelling your mother's maiden name, can delay the processing of your EI application. Your mother's maiden name is the family name she was given at birth. For example, if your mother was born Mary Smith, you would enter Smith, even if later in life she changed her name and it is now Mary Jones. You must enter Smith because it was the name she was given at the time of her birth. Do not enter her first name, her married names, or her date of birth.
- your mailing and residential addresses, including postal codes;
- your complete banking information, including the financial institution name and number, the branch number, and your account number for direct deposit of benefits;
- the names and addresses of all employers you worked for in the last 52 weeks, as well as the dates of employment and the reasons for separation from these employers;
- your detailed version of the facts, if you quit or were dismissed from any job in the last 52 weeks;
- the dates of any weeks (Sunday to Saturday) in the last 52 weeks when you did not work or receive any earnings, including the reason(s) why; and
- the dates and salary before deductions for weeks of employment (Sunday to Saturday) in the last 52 weeks, if one of the following situations applies to you:
- you have weeks where your earnings before deductions were less than $225 but more than $0 per week; or
- you reside in one of the economic regions designated under the Best 14 Weeks pilot project (which is in effect until June 25, 2011) and you are not applying for EI fishing benefits.
Records of Employment
Missing Records of Employment (ROEs) can delay the processing of your claim.
- If your employer issues ROEs in paper format, you must request copies of all ROEs issued to you during the last 52 weeks and provide them to Service Canada as soon as possible after you submit your EI application. You must either drop off your paper ROEs in person at any Service Canada Centre or mail them to us—we cannot finalize your application until we receive them.
- If your employer submits ROEs electronically to Service Canada, you do not need to request copies of your ROEs from your employers, and you do not have to provide copies to Service Canada.
1. When to apply
Apply as soon as you stop working. You can apply online at home, at any Service Canada Centre using one of the many Internet kiosks available, or at a public Internet access site, such as a public library. The Web site takes you step by step through the application process.
2. After you submit your application
You will receive a confirmation number electronically as proof that we received your application. Be sure to keep this number for future reference.
Date you submitted your application: _______________
Confirmation number: _______________________________
Note: If you do not receive a confirmation number, call 1-800-206-7218 (TTY: 1-800-529-3742) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Do not complete another application online.
3. Receiving your EI benefits
Shortly after you file your EI application, we will mail you an EI benefit statement, which will provide you with your EI access code, the date when your first EI report is due, and instructions on how to complete your EI reports (using either our EI Internet Reporting Service or our EI Telephone Reporting Service).
Note: Keep in mind that receiving the EI benefit statement does not mean that your application has been approved.
Register for My Service Canada Account to access your EI information online. My Service Canada Account is a fast and convenient way to securely:
- view any decision made about your EI application;
- sign up for direct deposit;
- see details on your payments and deductions;
- view and update your personal information, including changing your address;
- view and print copies of your T4E tax slip;
- view Records of Employment that your employers have submitted electronically in the last two years; and
- access links to help you find a job.
For step-by-step instructions on how to register for My Service Canada Account, visit our Web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/msca.
Tips for job seekers
Looking for a job but don't know where to start?
Check out the information at www.servicecanada.gc.ca to help you choose a career, get training and upgrade your skills, look for a job, or start a business.
Service Canada has produced a series of EI-related videos. To watch them, visit our Web site.
For labour market information in regions all across Canada, visit www.workingincanada.gc.ca. This Web site provides information on job descriptions, job and skills requirements, training availability, potential employers, and more.
To continue receiving EI benefits, you must be looking for work. You must also report any time that you are not capable of working or not available for work. Since Service Canada may ask you which employers you have contacted, it is important to keep a record of your job-search activities. You should keep a log of the names of all employers you visited or contacted, their addresses and phone numbers, and the dates you visited or contacted them. You should also keep a record of all the employers where you have applied or plan to apply for employment. Before you submit your EI application online, you will be given a complete list of your rights and responsibilities while you are receiving EI benefits.