What happens when you file for employment insurance

When you file for employment insurance (EI), you are submitting a claim to your provincial or territorial government for income support while you are out of work. The process starts with you — you must initiate the claim yourself, usually online through your province's EI portal or by phone. The government does not automatically know you are unemployed and does not start paying until you file.

After you submit your claim, the government verifies your work history and the reason you left your job. This verification period typically takes two to four weeks. During this time, you may be asked to provide documents like your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer, proof of your identity, and details about your job search. Once approved, payments arrive on a set schedule — usually every two weeks by direct deposit.

The amount you receive depends on how much you earned in the year before you lost your job and how many weeks you worked. EI replaces roughly 55 percent of your average weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount that changes each year. You must continue to meet program requirements while receiving payments, including reporting your income if you work part-time and actively looking for work.

Key Takeaways

  • You must file your own claim through your provincial EI office or online portal — the government will not file for you automatically when you lose your job.
  • Your employer should provide a Record of Employment (ROE) within five days of your last day of work, and you will need this document to support your claim.
  • The verification process usually takes two to four weeks, and you may be asked for proof of identity, work history, and details about why you left your job.
  • EI payments replace approximately 55 percent of your average weekly earnings and arrive every two weeks by direct deposit once your claim is approved.
  • You must report any income you earn while receiving EI and continue to show that you are actively searching for work.

Before you file: what documents and information you need

Gather these items before you start your claim. You will need your Social Insurance Number (SIN), a valid piece of government-issued photo identification, and your banking information for direct deposit. Have your most recent pay stubs or tax documents ready so you can confirm your earnings from the past year.

Your employer must issue a Record of Employment (ROE) within five days of your last day of work. This document shows how long you worked, how much you earned, and the reason your employment ended. If your employer has not sent it to you, contact them directly — do not wait. Some provinces allow you to file a claim without the ROE and request it later, but having it ready speeds up approval.

You will also need to know the dates you worked, the names and addresses of your employers from the past year, and details about why you left your job (laid off, quit, dismissed, or other reason). If you were dismissed, have any written documentation of the reason. If you quit, be prepared to explain why — the government distinguishes between quitting with just cause and quitting without cause, and this affects whether you receive payments.

Where to file your claim

Most people file online through Service Canada's My Service Account or through their provincial EI website. Online filing is the fastest route and gives you a confirmation number when ready. You can also call Service Canada at 1-866-332-3657 to file by phone, though wait times are often long during periods of high unemployment.

Some provinces run their own EI programs separate from the federal system. Quebec, for example, administers its own Parental Insurance Plan and has a different process for regular EI claims. Check your provincial government website to confirm whether you file federally or provincially — filing in the wrong place delays your claim.

If you need help understanding the process or have questions about your specific situation, Service Canada also offers in-person appointments at Service Canada offices in most cities. You can book an appointment online or by phone. Bring all your documents with you so an agent can review them and answer questions about your claim.

The timeline from filing to first payment

The first two weeks after you file are the waiting period. During this time, you are not paid, even if your claim is eventually approved. This waiting period is built into the program structure and applies to all claimants. You should plan your finances around this gap.

Weeks three through six are the verification period. Service Canada reviews your ROE, confirms your work history, and may contact you or your employer with questions. If everything matches and you meet the basic requirements, your claim moves to approval. If there are discrepancies — for example, your employer says you quit but you say you were laid off — the process takes longer while Service Canada investigates.

Once approved, your first payment arrives within one to two weeks. Payments then continue every two weeks on the same day of the week. If you filed online and everything was straightforward, you might see your first payment within four to five weeks of filing. If there were questions or missing documents, it can take six to eight weeks or longer.

What disqualifies you or delays your claim

If you quit your job without just cause, Service Canada may deny your claim or delay payments by up to six weeks. Just cause means you had no reasonable alternative — for example, your employer cut your hours drastically, changed your duties without agreement, or created an unsafe work environment. Quitting because you found another job, did not like your boss, or wanted higher pay does not count as just cause.

If you were dismissed for misconduct, you may be disqualified for up to six weeks. Misconduct means willful disobedience or deliberate neglect of your duties — not straightforward poor performance or a mistake. Service Canada distinguishes between the two, and you can explain your side of what happened.

If you do not report your income from part-time or casual work while receiving EI, your payments will be reduced or stopped and you may be asked to repay what you received. You must report all earnings, even if they are small. Similarly, if you do not actively search for work or refuse a reasonable job offer, you can lose your payments.

Reporting requirements while you receive payments

Every two weeks, you must confirm that you are still unemployed and still looking for work. This is called your bi-weekly report. You can submit it online through My Service Account or by phone. The report takes about five minutes and asks whether you worked, earned any income, or refused any job offers.

If you earned any money during the two-week period — from part-time work, self-employment, or a contract job — you must report it. EI will reduce your payment by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above a small threshold (the threshold changes each year). This means you can work part-time and still receive some EI, but you must report the income honestly.

If you miss a bi-weekly report, your payments stop until you submit it. If you miss two reports in a row, you may lose your entire claim and have to file a new one. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar for your reporting day so you do not forget.

How long your payments last

The length of your EI claim depends on how many hours you worked in the past year and the unemployment rate in your region. Most people receive between 14 and 45 weeks of payments. The higher the regional unemployment rate, the longer your potential benefit period. Someone in a region with 6 percent unemployment might receive 26 weeks, while someone in a region with 10 percent unemployment might receive 45 weeks.

To find out how many weeks you are may have access to to, check the estimate Service Canada provided when you filed your claim. This estimate is based on your work history and your region's current unemployment rate. The rate changes monthly, so if you file during a period of rising unemployment, you may receive more weeks than someone who filed the month before.

Once your benefit period ends, your payments stop. If you are still unemployed, you can file a new claim if you have worked enough hours since your last claim ended. The requirement is usually 120 hours of insurable work in the past year.

What to do if your claim is denied or delayed

If Service Canada denies your claim, they send you a written decision explaining why. Common reasons include not having enough insurable hours, quitting without just cause, or being dismissed for misconduct. The letter includes information about how to request a reconsideration or appeal.

You have 30 days from the date of the decision to request a reconsideration. Submit this request in writing to the Service Canada office that made the decision. Include any new information or documents that support your case — for example, if you quit because your employer cut your hours, provide emails showing the change.

If the reconsideration is denied, you can appeal to the Employment Insurance Commission, which is an independent body separate from Service Canada. This appeal must be filed within 30 days of the reconsideration decision. You can represent yourself or have a lawyer or advocate help you. Many community legal clinics offer free help with EI appeals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to wait for my employer to send the Record of Employment before I file?

No. You can file your claim when ready after your last day of work. If you do not have the ROE yet, most provinces allow you to file without it and request it later. However, having it ready when you file speeds up approval. Contact your employer if five days have passed since your last day and you have not received it.

What if I was laid off but my employer says I quit?

This disagreement is common and Service Canada investigates it. Submit your claim stating you were laid off and provide any written evidence — emails, text messages, or a termination letter. Service Canada will contact your employer to verify. If there is a conflict, they may ask both of you for more details before deciding.

Can I work part-time while receiving EI?

Yes. You can work part-time and still receive EI, but you must report your earnings every two weeks. EI will reduce your payment by 50 cents for every dollar you earn above a small threshold. You must also continue to show that you are actively searching for full-time work.

What happens if I find a job before my claim ends?

Notify Service Canada when ready. Your payments stop once you start working, but you do not have to repay what you already received. If your new job ends within a short time, you may be able to reactivate your existing claim rather than filing a new one — ask Service Canada about this option.

How do I know if my claim was approved?

Service Canada sends you a notice of assessment by mail or email (depending on how you filed). This notice shows your benefit amount, how many weeks you are may have access to to, and your first payment date. You can also check the status of your claim anytime by logging into My Service Account online.