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apprenticeship training.
Employment Insurance Benefits for Apprentices
Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits are available for apprentices while attending technical training if they have been referred under Section 25 of the Employment Insurance Act to attend the course and have worked sufficient hours to establish an EI claim. The amount of insurable hours of work needed, to establish a claim, varies from region to region.
On July 21, 2002, the Employment Insurance (EI) Regulations were amended so that apprentices in approved training programs, who are applying for EI benefits, may only need to serve one waiting period per apprenticeship program
Effective immediately, applying for EI is as easy as filing on-line from the convenience of wherever you access the internet. Visit the following web site: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/index.shtml
Apprentices are advised to apply for benefits after they have finished working or up to 10 days prior to the start date of their apprenticeship training. In addition to EI you may also be eligible for a supplementary allowance, ie. commuting, living away from home allowance, travel and day care expenses.
When to start your EI claim
The following is general information for apprentices who will be applying for EI while attending technical training.
- If the employer has work available, you are expected to remain employed up to the Friday before the start of technical training. If you leave work early, you are choosing to be unemployed and may not be entitled to Employment Insurance Benefits prior to the start date of your training. If you wish to have a holiday prior to the start of your technical training, your entitlement to benefits may be effected.
- If your last day of work is prior to the Friday before the start of technical training, you should apply for EI benefits on-line with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) immediately after you stop working. You do not have to wait for your Record of Employment (ROE). If you delay filing the application, you could lose benefits.
- If you would like EI regular benefits prior to attending technical training, you must meet the same entitlement conditions that are expected for all clients. In other words, you must be actively looking for work, keeping track of your job searches, and ready to accept suitable employment (even temporary employment) should it become available.
- You will require a reference code to access the apprenticeship application on-line at the link below. A personal reference code will be issued to you by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) by mail. With reference code in hand, visit the link below.
- Be prepared to submit your record of employment (ROE).
For more information contact Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) either on-line at www.canada.gc.ca or by phoning their general enquiries line at 1-800-206-7218.
Kelowna Human Resource Centre of Canada
Suite 306 - 471 Queensway Avenue,
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S5
Tel. (250) 762-3018
Fax. (250) 762-0357
Supplementary Allowances
As an apprentice you may also be eligible for Supplementary Allowances which may assist in recovering expenses for travel, room and board and day care. Please contact the following for additional information and your 16 digit reference code.
Ministry of Housing & Social Development
Employment & Labour Market Services Division
(250) 354-6274
