Canadian Employment Insurance Applications

When, How and Where to Apply for Employment Insurance in Canada

Canadian Employment Insurance benefits are not automatic. You must apply for them.

When to Submit an Employment Insurance Application

Apply for Employment Insurance as soon as you stop working, even if you haven't received your Record of Employment (ROE). Be sure to submit your Canadian Employment Insurance application within four weeks of your last day of work, or you may lose benefits.

You should receive your ROE from your last employer within five days of becoming unemployed. Some employers submit ROEs electronically, in which case you do not need to submit a copy to Service Canada. If you have difficulty getting an ROE from an employer, go to your Service Canada Centre or contact Service Canada at 1 800 206-7218 to find out how to get your ROE and what is needed to calculate your claim.

Employment Insurance Application Form

When making an application for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits, you will need to give the following information:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN), and the SIN of the other parent if applying for parental benefits
• Mother's maiden name
• Personal identification, such as a drivers licence or birth certificate, if you apply in person at a Service Canada Centre.
• Record of Employment (ROE) from each job for the last 52 weeks
• Bank information, or a blank personal cheque marked VOID, so Employment Insurance benefits can be paid by direct deposit
• Employment details, including gross salary (before deductions and including tips and commissions), gross salary for the last week of work from Sunday to the last day, and other amounts received or still coming, such as vacation pay and severance pay. You'll need to provide the names and addresses of your employers, including postal codes.
• Dates of weeks in the last 52 that you did not work and why
• Medical certificate if you are claiming sickness benefits or applying for compassionate care benefits
• Adoption certificate if you are an adoptive parent claiming parental benefits.

Where to Apply for Employment Insurance

You can apply for Canadian Employment Insurance in person by going to the Service Canada Centre nearest you.

You can also apply for Canadian Employment Insurance online.

If you have paid Canadian Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and are unemployed, you may be able to apply for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits using the EI Online Application from Service Canada.

EI Online Application - Frequently Asked Questions

Before you attempt the EI online application, please read through the Frequently Asked Questions from Service Canada.

EI Online Application - Personal Information

The EI online application takes about 60 minutes to complete, but if you are disconnected during the process, your information will not be saved. Be sure to have all the information you'll need close at hand before you begin the EI online application.

If you do not have all the information listed below, or if you have any questions, then it is better to file your Employment Insurance application in person at the nearest Service Canada office to make sure your Employment Insurance benefits are not delayed.

For the EI online application you will need:

• Your postal code
• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Date of birth
• Mother's maiden name
• Address and postal code of residence
• Gross salary - total earnings before deductions including tips and commissions
• Gross salary for your last week of work - from Sunday to your last day of work
• Vacation pay - received or to be received
• Severance pay - received or to be received
• Pension - received or to be received
• Pay in lieu of notice - received or to be received
• Other money - specify
• Name, address, dates of employment and reason for separation for all your employers in the last 52 weeks.
• Dates for the weeks in the last 52 weeks when you did not work, did not receive money and why
• Dates for the weeks (Sunday to Saturday) in the last 52 weeks when you did not work, did not receive moneys and reasons why
• Dates and amounts for weeks in the last 52 weeks when your earnings were less than $225.00 before deductions
• Band number if applying for Status Indian tax exemption
• Banking information to arrange direct deposit of Employment Insurance benefits.

If applying for Employment Insurance parental benefits, you will also need the SIN of the other parent.

If applying for Employment Insurance sickness benefits, you will need your doctor's name, address and telephone number. You may also need your expected date of recovery.

If applying for Employment Insurance compassionate care benefits, you will need information about the ill family member.

Note: When submitting an EI application online, you must also submit the paper copy of your Record of Employment by mail or in person to a Service Canada office as soon as possible.

EI Online Application - Confirmation

Once you submit your EI online application, a confirmation number will be generated. If you do not receive a confirmation number or wish to make changes to your application, do not apply again. Instead, call the following number during regular business hours and press "o" to talk to an agent: 1 (800) 206-7218

Posted in: Employment in Canada