On March 13, 2009, we looked at Unemployment Insurance in America and noted obstacles built-in to the U.S. system that often limited the ability of unemployed workers to obtain benefits.
Statistics just released showed that applications for unemployment insurance increased by almost 23% this January compared to last year. To deal with flood of applications, the government is providing an additional $60 million to hire more claim processors.
But critics argue that the real problem is the model itself, which has such strict eligibility requirements that more than one-half of Canada’s unemployed remain ineligible. Here is a summary of the various eligibility restrictions prepared by the government. In essence, you must have worked a certain number of hours during the 52 week period since your last claim to be eligible, and how many hours needed depends on where you live. Here is the chart that tells you how many hours you need to work and how long you can receive benefits for. In Toronto, for example, you need to have worked 595 hours, and you are eligible for a maximum of 47 weeks’ of benefits. You also have to wait a 2 week period at the beginning of your claim before your payments begin.
Critics want the number of hours needed to qualify to be lowered, the waiting period to be eliminated, the length of payments to be extended, and the amount of payments to be increased (currently, the maximum payment is $477 per week, based on 55% of average earnings to a maximum annual salary of $42, 300).
- Garry J. Wise, Toronto
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"and how many hours needed depends on where you live."
ReplyDeleteThis interests me a lot, why does it matter where you work when applying for this insurance? Can you work less hours to get the same credit when you work in the country and more if you work in the city? Or is it divided by areas? Seems kind of pointless and unfair to me to divide it this way.
Take care, Julie
Employment Insurance is very tricky thing yes it does matter where you libe to qualify for the partial claim. But if you are going after a full claim, then it is 910 hours accross the country. Employment Insurance has so many programs that about 25% of the people on employment insurance use. Get the most from Employment insurance check out myei dot ca.
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