Canadians forced from their homes by wildfires and other natural disasters can apply for Employment Insurance benefits immediately, without waiting for their employer to issue a record of employment, according to a notice from Employment and Social Development Canada.
The guidance comes as roughly 20,000 residents of Summerland, British Columbia, were ordered to evacuate over the weekend, joining dozens of other communities displaced by this season's fires. Evacuation orders frequently halt business operations, leaving on-site workers without pay through no fault of their own.
Eligibility and application process
To qualify for regular EI benefits, applicants must have worked in insurable employment and accumulated the required number of insurable hours in the previous 52 weeks or since their last claim. They must also have been without work and pay for at least seven consecutive days, be ready and able to work each day, and be actively seeking employment.
Applications are submitted online. Service Canada centres also offer free digital kiosks for in-person filing. Applicants need a social insurance number and a mailing address; those who have evacuated may use a temporary address such as a shelter, a friend's home, or a family member's residence.
ESDC says the first payment can take up to 28 days to arrive after an application is filed. The department urges claimants to register for direct deposit to speed delivery.
Reporting requirements
Approved recipients must file reports every two weeks, declaring all income received. However, money from insurance payouts, government disaster relief, the Red Cross, or other charitable organizations should not be declared on these reports, the department says.
Natural disasters recognized by the federal government include flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, landslides, and winter storms, among others. EI also covers job loss from seasonal or mass layoffs, sickness, maternity or parental leave, and caregiving responsibilities.
Based on reporting by Global News.