Canadian Employment Insurance Benefits are available under the EI system and are applicable to all eligible workers. Individuals holding Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, and foreign workers with work permits are also eligible for Employment Insurance benefits.
Initially, the pandemic significantly affected Canada regarding social life, family, business, and the capacity to travel across the country. However, one of the major challenges occurred for the Temporary Foreign Workers and those who wished to use the Canadian immigration programs. Several temporary foreign workers couldn’t obtain their employment income, and some faced hindrances in going back to their native place. However, the Canadian Employment Insurance Benefits Program helped them get through these unprecedented times.
Foreign national workers- their eligibility for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits
Those foreign workers with employment under insurable employment will need to pay premiums for their Employment Insurance. Additionally, foreign nationals must adhere to all essential eligibility requirements to get all employment benefits. They can also access other benefits, such as family caregiver, compassionate care, maternity, paternity, and sick leave.
Moreover, they can enjoy all the benefits applicable to individuals with Canadian citizenship and permanent residence.
Qualifying criteria for Canadian Employment Insurance Benefits
Going by the standard rule, foreign national workers like the other workers will have access to Employment Insurance regular benefits. They must fulfill the following conditions:
- Must hold employment under insurable employment.
- Their employment loss must not be due to their fault.
- They must not have any work or any pay until seven continuous days within the last 52 weeks.
- Also, they have completed the mandatory insurable hours within the past 52 weeks. This could include the hours beginning from the former EI claim (based on which is shorter).
- They also must have the potential to work every day and must be ardently seeking work opportunities.
Notably, foreign national workers won’t be able to access the EI benefits in case they willingly leave their employment without any valid reason. The same applies in case they lost their job because of misconduct or active participation in the labor conflict.
Overall, temporary foreign workers must ensure that they complete all eligibility criteria. One of the major factors behind foreign workers’ eligibility largely depends upon their ability to work every day. However, the work permit type and validity will determine further if the claimant can prove his requirement.
Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits- the requirements
In the case of usual situations, EI sickness benefits offer financial assistance for up to 15 weeks due to medical conditions, quarantine, illness, and injury. Individuals could also acquire 55 percent of their earnings in the form of $573 (maximum amount) for a week.
EI sickness benefits for COVID-19
Currently, the Canadian government aimed to provide additional financial support programs for everyone under the influence of Covid-19. Moreover, the government introduced Emergency Care Plans and benefits for Emergency Support.
The Public Health Authority provided a mandate on clearing off the one-week waiting period for new applicants, if under self-isolation or quarantine.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit- a brief
The Canadian government also declared that it would compensate those who lost their income during the pandemic but won’t have Employment Insurance eligibility.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit provided up to $2000 a month for every four months to those Canadians who had lost their employment or turned sick during the pandemic. CERB catered to working parents, self-employed and contractual workers.
Claiming EI benefits- the steps involved
The claimant must visit the official Canadian government’s website. Next, foreign workers must ensure that they complete the online application to avail of the benefits once they stop working. They must do so immediately to avoid any delay in the claim. Additionally, a delay of up to four weeks will lead to the loss of opportunity. Moreover, the foreign worker devoid of a Record of Employment from their employer can undoubtedly claim.
Also, it is crucial to present the following documents to make a claim:
- A Social Insurance Number and if it begins with 9, they must present proof of their immigration status through a work permit.
- Residential and mailing address, along with postal codes.
- All relevant banking information concerning the direct deposits, financial institution’s name, bank branch, and account number.
- Employment dates, names, and addresses and also justifying the reasons behind leaving the employers (for all of them within the last 52 weeks).
- Elaborating all the facts of leaving the job.
- Working dates, the highest earning dates within the insurable earnings of the last 52 weeks.
Conclusion
Canadian Employment Insurance Benefits offer all kinds of regular benefits to individuals who lost their jobs in the wake of unusual circumstances like Covid-19. Also, in situations where they’re willing to work each day but can’t access any suitable jobs. However, these benefits occur in the form of taxable payments.