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EI reports must be done every two weeks and can be done over the phone or online. Either way, it's important that the information is correct. While mistakes can happen, you should do your best to enter the information as accurately as possible. If you're filling out the report online, be sure to verify that all of the information is accurate before submitting it.
What is EI?
EI, also known as employment insurance, are employment benefits that provide temporary income support as primary income to those who are unemployed and going through a job search or upgrading their skills. You should qualify as long as you've paid premiums and met the required insurable hours minimum.
How these benefits are paid and what you're approved for is based on the Employment Insurance Act. This act determines your qualifying amount based on your income details, the number of insurable hours you've earned and if you've recently been on EI. Based on these factors, it will be determined if you qualify for employment insurance benefits or not.
Applying for EI
Filling out your EI reports isn't overly complicated, but you do need to pay close attention to the instructions. They can be slightly confusing and do require your full attention to ensure accuracy. Before we get into that, though, you need to start by applying for EI. This can be done online and only takes a few minutes. Any required documentation, such as ROEs (Records of Employment) and medical documents, can be submitted at this time.
After submitting your application, you'll receive a benefit statement to your mailing address giving you an EI access code to fill out your reports. You'll also need your Social Insurance Number.
You don't have to wait until you're approved for EI to fill out these reports. You can start filling them out once your confirmation notice has been received. Once your application has been approved, you'll receive payment for everything you've reported.
Biweekly Reporting
Once you've received your access code, you can start reporting on the EI Internet Reporting Service. Once you open the page, it'll allow you to enter your:
- Access code
- SIN number
- Province of residence
Hit continue, and you'll be able to begin reporting.
In the report, you'll be asked a series of multiple-choice questions asking whether you've worked in the reporting period at all. It will also ask other questions on ways you've potentially earned money or if you're attending school.
You must correctly enter the answers to these questions to avoid cancelling your benefits. It's also considered fraud to lie intentionally and is considered to be breaking the law. The most important question you'll be asked when filling out your report is whether you're ready or willing to work each day of the reporting period (Monday to Friday). If you are, you'll enter yes; if not, you'll enter no. The circumstances you'd say no is if you're sick, injured or on vacation.
If you aren't working or attending school, you'll select no to those questions and then complete your report. You have 10 minutes to complete the application before it closes and must start over. If you exit the page at all, you'll need to start over as well, which is why it's recommended to have a stable internet connection before opening the page.
It's important to ensure that all fields are completed before you submit your EI report. If they aren't, Service Canada will be unable to submit your report for processing. Making sure it's complete will ensure that you can submit reports on time.
What if You're Working?
If you're working or earning money in any other way on EI, you're still able to collect; you just need to report it. The information you must submit on your EI report is as follows:
- The days you worked
- The number of hours
- Phone numbers for employers
- Total earnings before deductions for each reporting week
You're going to enter all of your earnings, including commissions and tips. When entering the amount you've earned, it's important that you round to the nearest dollar for your pre-tax earnings. For example, if you earn $50.27, you'd enter $50. For anything above $0.50, you'll go up a dollar, so $50.53 would be $51.
You also want to report hours worked in full hours. Even if you worked 5 hours and 30 minutes, you'd enter 30 minutes.
You want to enter any training course or training program hours as well as your working hours and earnings. You also need to enter if you attended school as well. If you received any training allowance, that will need to be claimed.
What Money is Required to be Reported
When filling out your earnings, you must report any and all income earned in that reporting period. This includes all other money, even from vacation pay, workers' compensation benefits, cash jobs or even self-employed jobs.
Getting Paid After Reporting
When you receive your EI payments depends on how you've set up your payments. If you're registered for direct deposit, you could receive your payment 2 to 3 business days after completing your report. If you're not registered for direct deposit, then it could take up to 2 weeks to receive your check in the mail.
However, receiving your first EI payment will differ slightly from the rest. It can take up to 28 days after you apply, no matter when you fill out the report.
You'll continue to receive your money every reporting period until either:
- You've gone back to work full-time
- You've maxed out your EI benefits
The maximum amount of time you can claim EI ranges from 14 weeks to 42 weeks, depending on your reasoning. Also taken into account will be your region of residence and the amount of EI-insurable hours you've incurred in the last 52 weeks. Your pay rate will also depend on this, as well as your normal hourly wage. You can receive up to 55% of your normal wage with a maximum income of $61,500 annually. This means you can receive up to $650 every two weeks.
Does Everyone Need to Report?
While most regular EI benefits do require you to submit regular reports of your income details, there are some exceptions. These exceptions are based on your reasoning for claiming EI benefits. While it's not required to be exempt, you're able to choose to be exempt if:
- You're in a work-share program
- You're in an apprenticeship program
- Claiming maternity benefits
- Claiming parental benefits
- Claiming caregiving benefits
Sickness benefits are not exempt from reporting and must be completed every two weeks.
When Reports Should be Filled
At the end of every report, you will see a notification telling you when the next EI report is available based on your reporting calendar. There will also be a due date to have the next report completed. It's recommended to fill out the report online the first day you're able to. However, you do have 3 weeks to do so.
Not only will this allow you to get your next EI payment faster, but it will also ensure that your benefits aren't cancelled. Your benefits will be terminated even if you're just one day late. You'll have to reapply for EI again and may lose some of your benefit weeks.
EI Status and Updates
The best way to keep track of your EI benefit payments and reporting dates is by signing into your My Service Canada account. You can upload any required documents, find your reporting dates, check your application status, and close your EI claim. Here, you will also see if you have to repay benefits.
With your My Service Canada Account, you can also access CPP (Canada Pension Plan) services, OAS (Old Age Security), as well as your SIN number. You even have access to your income tax information here.
If you didn't sign up for direct deposit to your bank account when you applied for EI, it could be done at a later date through MSCA on the direct deposit page. You can also update your direct deposit information anytime to avoid any benefit payment delays.
What if You Aren't Approved?
If you aren't approved, or you've noticed that your approval is delayed, you're able to see this information on your My Service Canada account. You can contact the CRA directly if you don't find a reason for the delay.
If it's been communicated to you that you haven't been approved, you're able to request something called a reconsideration of decision. In order to do this, you can contact Service Canada. That said, you only have 30 days to do this after you've been informed of the decision.
Alternatives to Applying Online and EI Online Reporting
While you do have to apply for and fill out your EI application for employment insurance online, you don't have to submit all of your documents that way. You can bring the paper reports directly to the Service Canada office. Your employer can also submit your ROE (record of employment) to confirm your employment history.
Instead of using the online reporting portal to complete your report every two weeks, you can report using the telephone reporting service. This is ideal if you aren't 100% computer savvy. That said, there is a solution for everyone to complete their reports and continue receiving employment insurance benefits.
Overview
When applying for EI and completing your reports, it's easy to get overwhelmed. That said, it's relatively straightforward. Be sure to pay close attention to the questions and instructions before you begin. It's also important to ensure that you have the time to focus on the report. Not completing in time or closing the page can result in having to start over.
The most important thing to remember about your reports is that accuracy is key. Be sure to double-check all of your work before you submit it. If you make a mistake, you can inform Service Canada directly by calling them. They'll be able to make changes on their end to reflect the correct information. They can be reached during regular business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday.
