What are EI benefits or how do I know if I’m eligible for EI? If you are wondering, how can I apply for EI benefits online, this is very simple. The process to apply for EI online includes submitting an application online at the Government of Canada website, but first, you need to check your eligibility status for EI benefits. In this article, you can learn the step to apply for EI benefits online.
The online application process for EI benefits includes a series of stages such as preparing the application process, eligibility, and how to apply. However, only residents or citizens of Canada are eligible to apply for the benefits program and there are several of them which include the following
- EI Regular Benefits
- EI Benefits for Self-Employed People
- Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits
- Caregiving Benefits and Leave
- EI and Teachers
- EI Fishing Benefits and more.
What is EI
EI fully known as Employment Insurance is a governmental program that offers temporary income support to non-workers or workers that earn little or no income while they keep searching for jobs or upgrading their skills. Likewise, its income support is extended to workers who take off work due to one reason or the other like:
- Pregnancy
- Caring for a newborn or newly adopted child
- Illness
- Caring for a critically ill or injured person
- Caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death and more.
Qualify applicants or workers receive Employment Insurance benefits when they have paid premiums in the past year. Also, self-employed workers stand the chance of engaging and receiving EI benefits.
What is EI Regular Benefits?
One of the employment insurance benefits offered is the EI Regular Benefits. Qualified applicants for regular benefits include an individual who lost their job with no fault found in them. For instance, a shortage of work or seasonal or mass layoffs. One of the eligibility criteria is that you must be willing and available to work when you find one.
If you are wondering what is the best time to apply for EI benefits, the best answer is immediately you stop working. You can apply for the EI benefits if you haven’t received any employment. If you don’t apply for the benefits for more than 4 weeks after stopping work, you might not be qualifying for the benefit.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for EI?
First of all, you need to know the eligibility criteria for EI which will enable you to be able to receive EI Regular benefits. Here are the following eligibility criteria to apply for EI online:
- Were employed in insurable employment
- Lost job with no fault of your own
- Haven’t received payment or been employed for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks.
- have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter.
- Must be available, willing, and capable of working each day.
- Must be always looking for work.
However, in other to ensure that your eligibility is authentic and to receive payment you might be prompted to, required to complete bi-weekly reports through the Internet or telephone.
Requirements to Apply for EI Online
After checking the eligibility criteria, you also need to ensure that you have the necessary information ready to complete the online application. Here is the following information you will have to provide on your Employment Insurance (EI) application:
- Social insurance number (SIN)
- Last name or surname.
- Mailing and residential address
- Banking information to register for direct deposit and you’ll be needing your financial institution name, bank branch number, and account number.
- Name, addresses, dates of employment, and also the reason why you stop working for over the last 52 weeks.
- The detailed version of the fact if you quit or were layoff from any job in the past 52 weeks.
- The dates, Sunday to Saturday, and earnings for each of your highest paid weeks of insurable earnings in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is the shorter period the dates, Sunday to Saturday, and earnings for each of your highest paid weeks of insurable earnings in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is the shorter period
How to Apply for EI Benefits Online
To confirm if you qualify to receive EI regular benefits, you must go through the online application. The time duration that takes in completing the application is about 1 hour. Go to this website https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/privacy-notice.html and click Start application. Afterward, you need to fill out the necessary information to complete the application online.
Keep in mind if you fail to complete the application all at once, you can always come back and resume the application from where you stop using the temporary password given to you when you started. Your application details will be saved for about 72 hours right from the time you start. If you don’t return to the application, your detail will be deleted and you have to start the application from the beginning.
FAQs
How do I know if I’m eligible for EI?
To be approved for the EI benefits you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and also provide the necessary information mentioned above such as:
- Were employed in insurable employment
- The lost job with no fault of your own
- Haven’t received payment or been employed for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks.
- have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter.
What is My Service Canada Account?
My Service Canada Account abbreviated as MSCA is a free, simple, and secure online portal that allows you to access and manage your EI benefits. You can access your MSCA to perform several activities such as:
- View and update your EI information, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and more.
- Easily apply for EI
- Check your eligibility status
- Manage payment and more.
How long does it take to receive EI benefits?
It takes about 28 days to receive your first EI benefits after you have applied and provided all the necessary information.
What are some other ways to apply for EI?
There are several ways you can apply for EI, you can use your MY Service Canada Account (MSCA), over the phone or in person by visiting the Service Canada Center.
How long does it take to process an EI application?
After filling out the application online and being eligible for the benefit, it takes about 28 days to receive your benefit. However, if your application is still under review, it takes about 28 days for it to be approved and also 2 business days o be processed and to show online.
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