Another Employment Insurance Question - Sickness Benefits

Hello all,

I just found out yesterday afternoon that my employer will not pay me regular salary for the 6 weeks I am to be off  and I have to apply for EI Sickness Benefits.  I have a note from the Centre (TWH) and my employer will issue an electronic Record of Employment to EI.  But, my question is, when do I apply for EI benefits?  My surgery is February 4th.  Do I apply the morning of the 4th before heading to the hospital or do I apply February 3rd or can I apply now and just specify the dates?  I read through all of the info on the service Canada website but can't find out when I should actually send in the application.  I tried calling EI three times yesterday without success, and I will continue to try again today but was wondering if anyone had experience and could let me know how the best way to go about this is? 

Thanks in advance.

xx

Im in the same boat as you.  I used a large portion of my sick days for health issues this year so I don't have coverage for the whole time Im off.  From what I can understand is you can start the online process of applying for EI benefits before you last day of work, they will ask on the online form what your last day of work will be, it will also be on your ROE, ask for it electronically and then you can upload it to the EI site.  I am going to fill mine in the weekend before my surgery.  There is a 2 week waiting period before benefits can be paid so the first payment will likely be deposited on the week of Feb 16th -20th.  Hope this helps XO!

Hello my surgery buddy, we're in the same boat indeed.  That's a good idea about applying the weekend before, but I am wondering, with what bee said about still waiting 6 weeks later, if we should apply now?  It's all so confusing!  Hope you are having a good day.  XOXO

I had my surgery December 9th 2014. My last official day of work was on December 7, I was told to apply for it December 8 which is basically the day after your last day of work...As for what the previous person mentioned about the 2 week wait on it.. I am almost 6 weeks out and I still have yet to receive my first EI payment, I don't expect to be getting it before I even go back to work which will be this coming Monday.

Oh my that's terrible you still haven't been paid bee.  Did someone at EI tell you to apply for it December 8th or was it your employer that told you to apply for it then?  I have asked my HR at work and she doesn't know what to tell me.  I have tried calling to speak to an agent at EI with no luck so far.  I wish this was an easier process.  But then again, I am a nervous-nellie.

The two week waiting period I was referring to was the non payment period, they wont pay put any benefits for the first two weeks your are off, so if we are off a total of 6 weeks they will only pay benefits for a 4 week period.  I have summers off with my job and used to not get paid through the summer so went on EI every summer. Now that I think of it Bee, that is the regular wait time.  I forgot about the fact that you have to wait the first two weeks out with no payment then they make you wait for the next 2 weeks before they pay you, so yeah you are looking at a month before you get your first payment!  That totally sucks.

I was told by the people in the Canada service office that I couldn't apply until the last day of employment

Bee

Did EI receive your ROE because sometimes that is the hold up.

Hi all! 

Just wondering... Did your employers reject your short term disability? Or were you hoping to use sick time? 

Just curious! 

Thanks,

Jenn

Hi Cake my employer said because I would be off for less than 15 weeks (EI pays sickness benefits up to 15 weeks) that short term disability wouldn't apply yet.  I guess I would have to be off for 15 weeks before short term disability would kick in. 

My work has typically paid people when they are having surgery but have just decided not to in my case - even though last year when I approached them they said they would.  It's frustrating and I am bummed but it could be worse and I am keeping my chin up and counting my blessings.