EI Benefit - Questions 

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For how long will I receive benefits?

The number of weeks for which you may receive benefits is determined at the beginning of your benefit period and depends on the following:

-the regional rate of unemployment; and
-the number of hours of insurable employment that you accumulated in your qualifying period.

You can receive regular benefits for a period that varies from 14 to 45 weeks. However, the benefits corresponding to the number of weeks payable must be paid within a maximum of 52 weeks following the start date of your benefit period. If, for any reason, you interrupt your benefit claim, you cannot reactivate it after this 52-week period, even if you have not yet received all the benefits to which you were entitled.

I received EI benefits in the past. Do I need to submit a new application?

If you started a new EI claim within the last 52 weeks and there are still weeks payable on that claim, we will automatically reactivate (renew) your existing claim.

However, in some cases, it may be to your advantage to cancel or end your old claim earlier and start a new claim, because this may increase the amount of your benefits or the length of your benefit period.

You must decide whether or not to cancel or renew a claim based on your own personal situation.

It is important to consider:

-If your claim is reactivated and you work after the start of that claim, you may be able to establish a new claim when your existing claim runs out.
-In order to establish a new claim you must have enough insurable hours and meet the qualifying conditions for a new claim.
-If a new claim is established instead of reactivating your existing claim, the remaining weeks payable on the existing claim will be lost.
-Additionally, a two-week unpaid waiting period must be served on a new claim before you are entitled to receive payment.

Example

Julie's first claim for benefits started the week of January 25, 2015. In the previous 26 weeks, she worked 26 weeks, at 40 hours a week, for a total of 1,040 hours. She earned $10,400. She lives in a region for which the unemployment rate was 13.1% at the time she submitted her application. She will receive $220 a week in benefits, and she is eligible to receive benefits for a maximum of 40 weeks. She received 10 weeks of EI benefits and then returned to work. After her return to work, Julie worked for 30 weeks, at 40 hours a week, for a total of 1,200 hours. She earned $18,000 over the last 26 weeks. On November 15, 2015, Julie submits another application for EI benefits. The unemployment rate remains at 13.1%. Here are Julie's two options:

First option: Since Julie's first benefit period ends on January 31, 2016, and she has already served the two-week waiting period, Julie may receive the remaining 10 weeks of benefits, which total $220 per week, as part of her old claim. She can then start a new claim that will be based on the hours of employment and the insurable earnings of her second job. Therefore, she could receive 10 weeks of benefits at $220 a week and, after serving the two-week waiting period on the new claim, she could receive 42 weeks of benefits at $381 a week.

Second option: Julie could ask to end the claim that started in January and start a new claim, which would be based on the hours of employment and the insurable earnings of her second job. Her benefit rate would then be $381 a week, and she would be able to receive benefits for a period of up to 42 weeks, once she has served the two-week waiting period.

To reactivate your claim, you should visit the Service Canada website. Click on "Apply for Employment Insurance Benefits" in the menu on the right-hand side of the home page.

Do not start completing your online application if you prefer to start a new claim. Instead, please contact us by calling 1 800-206-7218. Your decision to start a new claim is final and cannot be reversed.

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You may not be entitled for benefits:

• if you voluntarily left your job without just cause
  
• if you were dismissed for misconduct
  
• if you are unemployed because you are directly participating in a labour dispute (for example, a strike, lockout or other type of conflict)
  
• during a period of leave that compensates for a period in which you worked under an agreement with your employer, more hours than are normally worked in full-time employment.