Important Information on the ROE Changes

On March 15, the Government of Canada made two changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) Regulations, which affects Records of Employment (ROEs).

The changes apply only to ROEs that employers submit electronically through Service Canada's online services, such as ROE Web.

• If you are applying for EI benefits
• If you are not applying for EI benefits

If you are applying for EI benefits

If your employer submits ROEs electronically, he or she no longer needs to print a paper copy for you. When we receive ROEs electronically, the data enters Service Canada's systems directly, where they are used to process your EI claim.

The Government changed the EI Regulations to respond to requests from the employer community to align the issuance of electronic ROEs with their payroll cycles. The changes will result in Service Canada receiving more correct and complete ROE information, and will improve services to EI clients by making the processing of EI claims more efficient. The changes also support faster processing time.

Note

• You should apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working. If you delay filing your EI claim for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
• Before applying you should confirm with your employer whether your ROE will be issued electronically to Service Canada.

How do the changes affect the way I apply for EI benefits?

1. If your employer submits your ROE to Service Canada electronically:
   • You do not need to request a paper copy of your ROE from your employer.
   • You do not need to submit a copy of your ROE to Service Canada, since we will receive it electronically from your employer.
   • On the same day your employer submits it, you will be able to view and print copies of your ROE online using My Service Canada Account.
   However, if your employers issue ROEs in paper format:
   • You must request ROEs from all your employers who issue ROEs in paper format.
   • After you complete your application for EI benefits online, you must either mail or bring the original paper copies of your ROEs to your Service Canada Centre. After you complete your application online, we will provide you with the address of the nearest Service Canada Centre.
2. If you get paid every week, every two weeks, or twice a month, your employer now has up to 5 days from the end of the pay period when your interruption of earnings began to issue your electronic ROEs. An interruption of earnings normally begins the day after your last day worked. This change allows employers to align the issuance of electronic ROEs with their payroll cycles. Please note that this does not affect the processing time for EI applications.
   • If you get paid every week, every two weeks, or twice a month, your employer must submit your electronic ROE to Service Canada no later than 5 days after the end of the pay period when your interruption of earnings began.
   • If you get paid every month or every four weeks, your employer must submit your electronic ROE to Service Canada either within 5 days after the end of the pay period when your interruption of earnings began, or within 15 days after the first day of your interruption of earnings, whichever date is earlier.
   Example
   You stopped working on Monday, March 2, 2009. Your employer pays you every two weeks on a Friday. The next pay period will end on Friday, March 13, 2009. This pay period includes the day your interruption of earnings began, since the pay period runs from Saturday, February 28, through Friday, March 13, 2009.
   
   Therefore, your employer must submit your electronic ROE to Service Canada no later than 5 days after Friday, March 13-your employer's deadline is Wednesday, March 18, 2009.

Notes

• If your electronic ROE is not available on My Service Canada Account and you are not sure if your employer has submitted it, contact your employer.
• If your employer has submitted your electronic ROE and it is not available on My Service Canada Account, please call the EI information line at 1–800–206–7218.
• If you have any concerns about the information on your electronic ROE, contact your employer.
• If you do not have access to the Internet at home you can view your ROE via My Service Canada Account using a kiosk at a Service Canada Centre or from any computer with public Internet access, such as those located at a public library.

If you are not applying for EI benefits

If you do not plan to file an EI claim but you would like to see your Record of Employment, you can view and print it through My Service Canada Account by obtaining a personal access code through Service Canada's Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security program.