Canadian employment insurance glitch at the worst time
March 27, 2020 6:08 PM Subscribe
The Canadian federal services have been hit with a tsunami of Employment Insurance claims, including mine. But I made a foolish mistake earlier today and don't see how I can fix it and sort out my claim.
The way EI works: you make an application online and they send you a passcode in the regular mail. To get your EI payments, you need to log in every two weeks, tell them you're still looking. The website is super basic and leaves no gray areas – questions are yes or no.
I had a full-time job from which I was laid off 2 weeks ago. I have also always made a little extra with side gigs, which I declare on my taxes.
This morning, when I got to the screen that asks "are you self-employed?" I wavered and then clicked "yes" because it's not like I'm not self-employed, and I thought maybe if they called up last year's taxes and saw that I'd made some self-employment money, they might not be happy if I denied doing so.
Bad move.
When I reached the end of the process I was told they needed more information and to "call this number."
I called all day. Mostly it was busy. Sometimes I got as far as punching in my SIN and code, only to receive a recorded message saying they had too many calls and couldn't cope.
The Service Canada real-life offices are shut down because of COVID-19.
I am not likely to ever get through on that number.
There's no way to send them the information by email.
What's my next step?
The way EI works: you make an application online and they send you a passcode in the regular mail. To get your EI payments, you need to log in every two weeks, tell them you're still looking. The website is super basic and leaves no gray areas – questions are yes or no.
I had a full-time job from which I was laid off 2 weeks ago. I have also always made a little extra with side gigs, which I declare on my taxes.
This morning, when I got to the screen that asks "are you self-employed?" I wavered and then clicked "yes" because it's not like I'm not self-employed, and I thought maybe if they called up last year's taxes and saw that I'd made some self-employment money, they might not be happy if I denied doing so.
Bad move.
When I reached the end of the process I was told they needed more information and to "call this number."
I called all day. Mostly it was busy. Sometimes I got as far as punching in my SIN and code, only to receive a recorded message saying they had too many calls and couldn't cope.
The Service Canada real-life offices are shut down because of COVID-19.
I am not likely to ever get through on that number.
There's no way to send them the information by email.
What's my next step?
Response by poster: jacquilynne, I did that, but didn't mention it because it's almost comic.
My MP is a certain J. Trudeau.
posted by zadcat at 7:10 PM on March 27, 2020 [5 favorites]
My MP is a certain J. Trudeau.
posted by zadcat at 7:10 PM on March 27, 2020 [5 favorites]
Honestly, I would just keep calling. keep pressing zero. I know its aggravating as hell, but they're adding staffing to the phone lines - you're definitely not alone.
Also I have a friend who worked the counter at a service canada centre - she tells me that for most EI stuff, as the counter staff are not actually trained in processing claims, for issues like yours they generally...call the number (admittedly they do have a priority line, but there's still often a wait).
posted by stray at 7:15 PM on March 27, 2020
Also I have a friend who worked the counter at a service canada centre - she tells me that for most EI stuff, as the counter staff are not actually trained in processing claims, for issues like yours they generally...call the number (admittedly they do have a priority line, but there's still often a wait).
posted by stray at 7:15 PM on March 27, 2020
Best answer: My sister is an EI agent. I sent her this question and this is what I she said the public information and guidelines say (IE none of this is privileged/secret/sensitive information, you aren't getting an inside track by me telling you this):
First reassurance: minor self employment is not a problem for collecting EI. As long as, as it sounds in your situation, you were working full time and the side gigs were never meant to build to a full time self employment thing and aren't approaching a major fraction of your annual income.
When you talk to them they will ask about volume of work (days per week; hours per day; that sort of thing) and what your intentions with self employment were. As long as you weren't trying to make the side gig full time you will be fine.
But you do have to call the number. And you might be asked to call about something that has nothing to do with your self employment. There isn't a short cut and claim volumes went from like 5000 a week to 1 million so things are busy.
The good news is that if you are found eligible your claim will be back dated to your application date. Not great for cash flow if it takes more than a couple weeks but at least you won't be out any cash long term.
PS: Service Canada counter staff are not EI staff and essentially all they can do is receive documents. You are way better off calling from home then going to the SC office even if they were open.
posted by Mitheral at 8:21 PM on March 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
First reassurance: minor self employment is not a problem for collecting EI. As long as, as it sounds in your situation, you were working full time and the side gigs were never meant to build to a full time self employment thing and aren't approaching a major fraction of your annual income.
When you talk to them they will ask about volume of work (days per week; hours per day; that sort of thing) and what your intentions with self employment were. As long as you weren't trying to make the side gig full time you will be fine.
But you do have to call the number. And you might be asked to call about something that has nothing to do with your self employment. There isn't a short cut and claim volumes went from like 5000 a week to 1 million so things are busy.
The good news is that if you are found eligible your claim will be back dated to your application date. Not great for cash flow if it takes more than a couple weeks but at least you won't be out any cash long term.
PS: Service Canada counter staff are not EI staff and essentially all they can do is receive documents. You are way better off calling from home then going to the SC office even if they were open.
posted by Mitheral at 8:21 PM on March 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
My MP is a certain J. Trudeau.
If it's any consolation, he has a constituency office that is staffed separately from the Prime Minister's office, so it won't hopefully be quite as slow as you'd think to get through (though MPs generally get slammed and he might get a lot of weird stuff to his constituency email address). I'm sure they are triaging for this type of thing.
The most best of luck in getting through and getting this solved.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:33 PM on March 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
If it's any consolation, he has a constituency office that is staffed separately from the Prime Minister's office, so it won't hopefully be quite as slow as you'd think to get through (though MPs generally get slammed and he might get a lot of weird stuff to his constituency email address). I'm sure they are triaging for this type of thing.
The most best of luck in getting through and getting this solved.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:33 PM on March 27, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Marking ths resolved. I got CERB.
posted by zadcat at 6:59 AM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by zadcat at 6:59 AM on April 8, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Nobody will look back at this, but I finally got through to an agent, more than a month later, and cleared the block out of my benefits. (I did get CERB, but it's based on my initial application for EI, so has to be coordinated through the EI system, not the CRA, and needs those biweekly EI-style reports to continue.)
Thanks all for good wishes.
posted by zadcat at 8:02 AM on May 2, 2020
Thanks all for good wishes.
posted by zadcat at 8:02 AM on May 2, 2020
Oh good! I am glad you got it.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:23 AM on May 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jacquilynne at 8:23 AM on May 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by jacquilynne at 7:04 PM on March 27, 2020