In order to assist anyone negatively affected by the COVID-19 virus due to self-quarantine or having the virus, I am pleased to provide you the following information to assist you in applying for EI benefits and receiving payment from Service Canada. Below is some information to assist all of you.
If you become sick and do not have and time banks to withdraw from?
Call your Manager to request a Record of Employment from payroll.
How do I start my EI Claim?
You can initiate your EI Claim online through Service Canada. You must do your claim online through the Service Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/apply.html
Do I need a paper Record of Employment to Start My EI Claim?
No, the Record of Employment must be filed electronically by payroll. This is sent at the end of each pay period per government regulations.
What are EI sick-leave benefits?
Eligible workers with no or limited paid-leave benefits through their employers can apply for up to 15 weeks of employment insurance if they cannot work for medical reasons such as cancer, a broken leg, or in this case, being quarantined in a public-health threat.
How is the government adjusting the program for COVID-19?
Normally, a worker who qualifies for the benefits has a one-week waiting period before payments start, so if you’re quarantined for two weeks you’d only get sickness benefits for one of those weeks. For people quarantined due to COVID-19, the government is eliminating the waiting period entirely, so you can get EI benefits for an entire 14-day quarantine. The government previously waived the waiting period, which was then two weeks, during the 2003 SARS epidemic.
Who qualifies for EI sick-leave benefits?
Employed Canadians who pay EI premiums, and self-employed people who register to participate in the EI program, will qualify if they cannot work because of a medical condition, have lost at least 40 per cent of their usual weekly pay, and worked a minimum of 600 hours in the year before the claim or since their last EI claim. If you are self-employed and pay into EI, you have to wait at least 12 months after registering to make a claim.
Do I need a doctor’s note to receive EI Benefits?
Normally a medical certificate signed by your doctor is required to get sick-leave benefits but a spokeswoman for Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said the government is waiving the note for patients required to go into quarantine by law or by a public-health official. People who are asked to self-isolate by their employers when public-health officials recommend it can also qualify.
The exact documentation required is still evolving, said Health Minister Patty Hajdu, but she said the goal is to minimize the effort required of a person who needs to go into quarantine.
What happens if I get sick and the quarantine period is extended?
If you are put into quarantine as a precaution and aren’t sick then, but later do test positive for COVID-19, a signed medical certificate confirming the diagnosis will be required for you to receive sick-leave EI benefits beyond the initial period of the quarantine.
How much will I receive from EI sick leave?
The current EI payment is 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week.
What if I don’t qualify for EI sick-leave benefits?
At the moment there is no program but the government is “exploring additional measures” to provide some kind of income support for Canadians not eligible for EI sickness benefits.
How much does the government think it will cost to do this?
The government is budgeting $5 million to waive the one-week waiting period. However, the cost could change depending on how widespread the outbreak is in Canada.
As legislation changes during this pandemic, I will update you accordingly. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any clarification.
Take care of yourself, your family and each other.
Kind regards,
Sandra Morrison, CPM, CPHR, SHRM-SCP
Vice President, Human Resources
