Employment Insurance (EI) Regular Benefits
December 31,2020
Please follow these basic guidelines to help ensure your EI application goes smoothly. The Reference code provided will be active January 3rd, 2021 and not before.
Here is a checklist to assist you
- Make an ONLINE application for Regular benefits on the Service Canada website.
- Use the Reference code provided below and ONLY this code. Input exactly as it is shown.
- Wait a MINIMUM of 2 days or until you receive a PIN code in the mail to report earnings.
- Go ONLINE to the Service Canada website and REPORT your earnings during the timeframe asked.
The Reference Code for this layoff (Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021) is:
3515042021707716
If you work Sunday January 3rd, 2021 you MUST report these earnings to EI.
Frequently asked Question,
What if I had reported a return to work and closed my claim? — You should apply for Regular benefits using the reference code provided.
What if I had been reporting to keep my claim open but received a message that my claim was closed and no more reports would be accepted? — You should apply for Regular benefits with the reference code provided.
What if I had continued my reports and my claim is still open? — You do NOT need to re-apply and can simply continue your reports.
What if I had a claim in January of 2020 and the claim is now ended? – You should apply for Regular benefits using the reference code provided. You will have to serve a one week waiting period for EI and SUB.
Important Notes
- Given the current state of the Country and the amount of EI claims being submitted, expect delays in processing your claim
- The EI application ONLINE, may be VERY slow due to a high volume of applications being submitted throughout Canada at any given time.
- Ensure you write down the TEMPORARY CODE when prompted to do so, this temporary code will allow you to go back into your application, should you be kicked off the website.
- Many of you may have started a claim in January of 2020. This means that you will have to start a new claim this January. This means you will have to serve a waiting period for both EI and SUB
Employment Insurance (EI) Regular Benefits
The purpose of this notification is to provide the necessary information to file for Employment Insurance Benefits for any active Unifor Local 707 Unit #1 (Ford) members that are laid off for: PP2 Week beginning Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021.
(Read the following information very carefully, so that you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities when applying for EI)
There are two steps involved in this process. One, you must apply for EI benefits. Two, you must report your earnings and your return to work date. You cannot do both steps on the same day.
Eligibility
If eligible you may choose to apply EI Benefits ONLY IF:
1. You remain available for work.
- This means you are remaining within two hours from your home and in the province of Ontario.
- This means you will report to work any day, Monday through Friday, should the Ford Motor Company, or any other employer call upon you to do so.
2. You accurately report to Service Canada.
- Any absences from Ontario.
- All gross earnings during the week of Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021, this includes any worked hours, vacation pay form the Ford Motor Company, any other employer or any type of self-employment.
Note: If you are working at the Ford Motor Company and have wages or vacation of more than 24 hours or are in receipt Sickness and Accident (S&A) or WSIB payments during this down week, DO NOT apply for EI Benefits at this time.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are not willing to remain available for work or accurately report all absences and earnings you should not apply for EI Benefits. If Service Canada were to determine you knowingly withheld information or misrepresented the facts to make a false claim, they will consider it an act of committing fraud; as such you may be financially penalized and/or prosecuted.
New Employment Insurance Claim (EI waiting periods NOT served)
Any person starting a brand new EI claim, or serving a waiting period on an existing claim will have any monies earned or received deducted dollar for dollar from any benefit that would otherwise be payable.
Therefore, individuals with any vacation pay or work earnings during the layoff from Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021 should seriously consider whether it is worth applying for EI at this time.
As during any Employment Insurance waiting period an individual with gross earnings in excess of $573.00 (the maximum allowable earnings in a waiting period), would not be able to establish a waiting period during this time.
Already Established Employment Insurance Claim (EI waiting periods served)
For those with existing EI claims with a waiting period already served and established by Service Canada, you are eligible to receive a weekly Employment Insurance benefit and any benefit will be reduced by approximately 50% of any gross earnings you report for the week. IF you have no earnings during the week of Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021 you will be entitled to an EI benefit, to a maximum of $573.00.
Additional Information
Please note you will be asked to provide your last day worked or paid, which for most, will be Friday, January 1st, 2021. For those who are asked to work during the weekend, please reflect the last day worked correctly, and remember any earnings for work performed on Sunday, January 3rd, 2021 will be considered earnings for the week of Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021 and may exceed any allowable earnings for EI purposes.
The Ford Motor Company of Canada will submit a Record of Employment (ROE) electronically to Service Canada on your behalf; therefore, you do not need to request copies from Ford payroll.
However, if you do not have an established Employment Insurance claim, to obtain the required insurable hours to qualify for Regular EI benefits you may need to request a ROE from any past employers that you may have had over the last 52 week period, which did not previously send your ROE electronically to Service Canada. If your previous employer provides you with a paper format ROE take the Record to a Service Canada outlet or you can pass it on to the In-plant UNIFOR Benefit Office and it will be delivered to Service Canada on your behalf.
Shortly after you complete the application online you will receive a 4-digit Personal Access Code in the mail to use for completing your reports either by phone or online. This 4-digit code will be the same for your lifetime. However, you must wait until your application is processed before you can use it to report. It is important to complete your reports, for all the time you were unpaid, in a timely manner. 3 weeks is considered timely.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your EI claim or application you can access your EI account online by signing up for ‘My Service Canada’ account. If it is necessary to call the inquiry line at 1-800-206-7218, be sure to provide the reference code above to ensure you receive the information that pertains to the ‘Automotive Employment Insurance Application’.
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REGULAR BENEFITS- FILING PROCEDURES
STEP 1
Read the following information very carefully, so that you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities when applying for Employment Insurance)
Online Automotive Employment Insurance Application
Employment Insurance is and has always been a government program administrated by a federal branch currently known as Service Canada, which determines how unemployed in Canada apply and receive benefits based on the Employment Insurance Act. Service Canada determines how application is made by a claimant, which is why it is your responsibility to apply for Employment Insurance online using Service Canada’s Automotive Employment Insurance Application with the reference code below.
To Complete an Application Online go to:
Once on the Service Canada Website click “English” then once on the appropriate page click “HOME”
Next, click “BENEFITS”.
Next, click “Employment Insurance”.
Next, click “Regular Benefits”.
Next, click “Apply”. Then scroll down the page and click “READY TO START?”
Scroll down the page again and click “Start Application”.
Note: Should you have problems finding the web page, do a “Google” search for “Service Canada”. Once you have found the appropriate page prior to starting your E.I. Application you should know or have:
- Required personal information for the EI application
You will be asked for, and should have on hand, your Social Insurance Number, the correct spelling of your Mother’s maiden name (last name upon her birth) and any banking information for direct deposit purposes, this is optional and only necessary if the information has changed since last in receipt of benefits, or if not set up with Service Canada.
- Required employment information for the EI application
The Ford Motor Company of Canada will submit a Record of Employment (ROE) electronically to Service Canada on your behalf; therefore, you do not need to request copies from the Ford Motor Company.
- Reactivating or terminating a previous EI claim
If you already have started and established an Employment Insurance claim for benefits within the past 52 weeks and there are weeks still payable, that claim will automatically be reactivated when you complete the EI application online.
- The Privacy Notice Statement / start your E.I. application
Read the privacy statement and scroll down the page and “Click” Start Application
Please note that some questions in the applications may vary slightly depending on the region you live.
Start to Finish Step by Step Instructions
Introduction
If you had attempted an application within the last 72 hours you will be given an opportunity to retrieve any information you had previously inputted by entering your personal information as well as the temporary password which was presented when you started that application. If you are not retrieving a previous application select No and “click” Continue…
Type of Employment Insurance Application
When asked what type of Employment Insurance benefits would you like to claim?
Select: Benefits for employees
“Click” Continue…
Reference Code
To ensure that your online application is processed at our designated Service Canada branch it is very important that you answer YES to the question asking if you are part of a group lay off situation and “were you given a reference code to submit this application?” Enter the New reference code exactly as indicated below.
3515042021707716 “Click” Continue…
Specialized Application
Read this section and “Click” Continue…
Identity Information
Input you’re Social Insurance Number, your Birthday, Last Name, First Name, Last Name at Birth, Gender and your Mother’s Maiden Name (Mother’s Family Name at her Birth). “Click” Continue…
Identity validation
Review Identity information to ensure you have provided the correct information.
If correct “Click” Continue…
Temporary Password Identification Number
After inputting your personal information, you will be given a temporary password identification number. Write down this down as this is the number they will ask for if for any reason you are unable to complete this application and are required to retrieve it for completion within 72 hours. “Click” Continue…
Personal Information
Enter which language you would prefer to speak English or French, your Area Code and Home Phone Number, your Postal Code, Home Address and whether or not your Home Address is different from your Mailing Address. “Click” Continue…
Direct Deposit
If you had previously set up direct deposit, for which no information has changed, and answer YES to the questions and any benefit you are to receive will be directly deposited into your account. If you have not previously elected the direct deposit option or wish to change the information currently on file at Service Canada, you should have a cheque on hand in order to reference the banking information needed.
“Click” Continue…
Last Employer Information
Provide the Business name of your most recent Employer:
Ford Motor Company. Phone number is (905) 845-2511.
First day worked is an optional question that is not required to be answered, but you may enter your Seniority Date if you wish.
Last Day Worked: the last day for which you worked or paid before you were laid-off.
For most this will be Friday, January 1st, 2021. But input your last day worked.
“Click” Continue…
Third Party Assistance
Answer whether or not someone else completed the application on your behalf.
“Click” Continue….
Rights and Responsibilities
You will now be asked to review the Rights and Responsibilities section, consisting of 6 pages. Your responsibilities are outlined beginning page 3, including the necessity to report any prolonged absence from your normal place of residence or the country during this period. You must be ready, able and looking for work to satisfy the conditions of collecting an EI benefit or establishing a waiting period.
To continue application, select; I accept Rights and Responsibilities. “Click” Continue….
Attestation
A statement in which you indicate you completed the application truthfully, you understand the Rights and Responsibilities while applying for Employment Insurance Regular Benefits and that you understand by knowing making a false statement you are subject o penalty or criminal proceedings.
Accept the Statement and complete the Application. “Click” Continue…
Confirmation and Information
The application is now complete and you will be given an opportunity to print out or write down or print a confirmation number.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your E.I. claim or application you can access your EI account online by signing up for My Service Canada Account. If it is necessary to call the inquiry line at 1-800-206-7218, be sure to provide the reference code above to ensure you receive the information that pertains to an Automotive Employment Insurance application.
IMPORTANT
STEP 2-Employment Insurance Reporting
Shortly after you complete the application online you will receive a Personal Access Code # in the mail to use for completing your reports either by phone or online. Your 4-digit code never changes so you may already know it but you must still wait for the application to process before you can report.
It is important to complete your reports, and accurately report for all the time you were laid-off, in a timely manner, to establish an Employment Insurance waiting period or receive an Employment Insurance benefit.
Once you have your Personal Access Code, go online and report (remember to wait about 2 days after you have applied if you already know your PIN#). You should report for the timeframe as prompted. Please make note that reports are 2-week blocks.
You will then be prompted for earnings in each week. Most members will report $0 for the week of Sunday, January 3rd to Saturday, January 9th, 2021. But please NOTE: if you worked Sunday January 3rd. 2021, You need to report these earnings.
In solidarity,
Paul Ivey Tim Batke
UNIFOR Local 707 Unit# 1 Alternate Benefit Representative
Benefit Representative
December 31, 2020
