Employment Insurance

COVID-19 related resources and information

If you lose your job or are temporarily laid off from work, you can in some cases receive Employment Insurance, or EI benefits.  These benefits include the regular benefits, but can also include maternity and parental benefits for new parents, compassionate care benefits for taking care of gravely ill family members, and sickness benefits if you are unable to work because of a sickness or injury.  These benefits are all temporary.

If you have lost your job, or you have to leave work for any other reason you should apply for benefits through Service Canada.

If your application is denied, you will receive a letter explaining why. You have 30 days from the date of the letter to ask Service Canada for a “reconsideration” of the decision. If you are denied again, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons.   You can file a written appeal of the decision to the Social Security Tribunal (SST) within 30 days of receiving the Reconsideration decision.

If you have been denied you can contact our clinic.  Our Clinic offers information, advice and representation about denials of EI benefits. We will assist with writing reconsideration letters if you have been denied any benefits. We will also assist with the filing of appeals to the Social Security Tribunal and in the appropriate cases represent you at the Social Security Tribunal.

We also will provide representation in the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal if we feel your case warrants this level of representation.  We are very selective about doing appeals in Federal Court.

Unfortunately, we are not able to assist with filling out application forms. If you need assistance with filling out forms, we will refer you to the appropriate community agencies.