Employment Insurance Services
Current
EI Rate:
To
see the current rate and hours required for EI please click
on the link here. Please look at Northern Alberta to see the
current rate.
Forms:
The
Yellowhead East Business Development Corporation provides Employment
Insurance forms at both the YEBDC office in Whitecourt and at the
Business and Education Link in Barrhead, during normal business hours;
8:30
a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
You
may also apply online for Employment Insurance. Click
here to apply online.
EI
Assistance:
Barrhead
- Employment Insurance Assistance is available at the Business and
Education Link in Barrhead Monday to Friday
from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. locally
@ 780-674-6880 or toll free @ 1-877-848-3030.
Whitecourt
- Service Canada community office Whitecourt is available Monday
to Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. locally @ 780-706-3500 or toll
free @ 1-877-706-3500
Types
of Claims:
There
are four Employment Insurance claims:
1. General
2. Maternity/Parental
3. Sickness
4. Compassionate Care Benefits
If
you require EI assistance, please bring a valid drivers license or
equivalent form of ID, your Record of Employment form(s) and any
other necessary documentation. Additional forms are required by EI
depending on the claim type. If you have not yet
recieved your ROE from your employer the claim can still be sent
in to be processed without the missing ROE. However the missing ROE
must be mailed as soon as possible as
to not hold up your claim.
An
individual can receive Compassionate Care Benefits if they have to
be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family
member who is gravely ill with a significant risk
of death within 26 weeks.
Commonly
Asked Questions about EI:
How
many hours do I need to collect EI?
The
Regional Rate of Unemployment changes in the area every four weeks,
the rate can be anywhere from 420 - 700 hours of insurable employment
to qualify for EI. If you're starting your first job, or if you're
coming back into the work force after an absence of two years or
more, you will need 910 hours of insurable employment to qualify
for EI regardless of the local unemployment rate.
When
do the EI Rates change in the area?
Every four weeks,
usually around the 10th of each month.
What is the
waiting period?
There
is a two-week waiting period for which no benefits are paid and during
which your claim is processed. You must still send a claimant's report
form for this period, but you won't be paid. Any earnings in the
waiting period will be deducted dollar-for-dollar from the first
three weeks of benefits payable. The waiting period does not start
until you establish your claim.
When
will my claim start?
The Edmonton
Office will determine when your claim starts depending on your
last day worked and when your claim is filed.
How much
money will I get paid per week on EI?
The
size of your weekly benefit cheque will depend on your earnings in
the last 26 weeks. The rate is 55% for most claimants. For claimants
who have low family income and dependants their rate could be up
to 65%.
How
long will I get EI?
It all depends
on the unemployment rate in your region and how long you have worked.
Benefits do not last forever. You can receive benefits of between
14 and 45 weeks depending on your circumstances. The maximum is
30 weeks if collecting any special benefits (Sickness, Maternity,
and Parental).
How many
weeks is Maternity and Parental Benefits?
Maternity
benefits are a maximum of 15 weeks and Parental benefits are a maximum
35 weeks (max total = 50 weeks). It all depends how many insurable
weeks you have to determine how many weeks of benefits you will receive.
When
will I hear from EI with regards to my claim?
You can start
receiving cards up to 10 working days after you have filed your
claim, this does not determine that you are on EI. You should receive
a letter in about 4-6 weeks from the date you filed that explains
if you are on EI or not.
Can I earn
money while on EI?
If
you are receiving regular benefits, you can earn 25% of your weekly
amount or $50.00, whichever is higher, without affecting your receipt
of benefits. All earning above that limit will be deducted dollar-for-dollar
from your weekly benefits
Last
Updated
07/13/2007
