Would I be eligible for EI if I'm a co-op student?

[goobelygoop]

Just curious if anyone can help (I was going to call Service Canada, but the hold is unbelievable...)

SO I've been working at my co-op job for the past 8 months, and will be let go next week as it's the end of the term.
Since I won't be going back to school until January (that's when my master's program begins), would I be eligible to apply for EI for Sept-Dec?
I know I have enough hours and probably meet all the "technical" requirements - but does the fact that I was in a co-op program disqualify me?

[GSRee]

Just curious if anyone can help (I was going to call Service Canada, but the hold is unbelievable...)

SO I've been working at my co-op job for the past 8 months, and will be let go next week as it's the end of the term.
Since I won't be going back to school until January (that's when my master's program begins), would I be eligible to apply for EI for Sept-Dec?
I know I have enough hours and probably meet all the "technical" requirements - but does the fact that I was in a co-op program disqualify me?

Were you paying into EI while on your co-op placement? If so, I can't see why you wouldn't qualify. I've never claimed though, so I'm obviously no expert on the rules.

I'd just fill out the online application...worst case they reject you and you wasted a few minutes time. Best case you get money!

[speedyforme]

If you are being let go due to the end of your contract then I don't think you qualify, I think you have to be let go "early".

[Mirx]

If you are being let go due to the end of your contract then I don't think you qualify, I think you have to be let go "early".

Contract or not, if you paid into EI, you are eligible for EI benefits. You will have to try to find work during the 4 months until returning to school (you can be unsuccessful), and prove to Service Canada that you are actually looking for a job, and not just looking for a cheque for 4 months. If they think you are looking for a cheque while waiting to return to school, they'll probably disqualify you are "not seeking employment".

[goobelygoop]

Contract or not, if you paid into EI, you are eligible for EI benefits. You will have to try to find work during the 4 months until returning to school (you can be unsuccessful), and prove to Service Canada that you are actually looking for a job, and not just looking for a cheque for 4 months. If they think you are looking for a cheque while waiting to return to school, they'll probably disqualify you are "not seeking employment".

Hey thanks everyone, appreciate the clarification.
(and yup, I was paying into EI during the past 8 months, as well as my previous 8 month term last year. Thanks again)

[ItemFinder]

The system is not meant to be abused. People like you make me sick.

[tdott]

Who can apply for EI benefits?

You can apply for EI benefits if you have paid into the EI account and you are unemployed.

You can receive regular benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own, for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs. To find out about the requirements for regular benefits...You can also receive maternity, parental and/or sickness benefits if pregnant, caring for a newborn or adopted child or sick. To find out about the requirements for maternity, parental and sickness benefits... You can receive fishing benefits if you are a person engaged in fishing.To find out about the requirements for fishing benefits...
You can receive compassionate care benefits if you have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with a significant risk of death. To find out about the requirements for compassionate care benefits...

More FAQs here:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/application/applying_for_benefits.shtml

[goobelygoop]

The system is not meant to be abused. People like you make me sick.

???
I'm not "abusing" the system
I paid into EI.
I am unemployed.
I'll be returning to school in January through no fault of my own (it's not like I'm purposely waiting until January....that's when my program starts).

What's the problem?

Regardless, I finally got through to Service Canada and they confirmed I can apply and will be eligible. Thanks again for your help everyone.

[smokescreen15]

The system is not meant to be abused. People like you make me sick.

How is he abusing the system? As long as he is actively seeking employment during the 4 months and has paid into EI he should have access to the service.

[Ceryx]

EI is intended to help people who got laid off. It provides them source of income while they are looking for job.

EI isn't for people that has plan to quit/leave their job for something else.

In your case, you are going back to school in the next four months and you weren't laid off. You are just being cheap and try to abuse the EI system.

You paid for EI and so do I. It was suppose to help people in need, not some greedy bastard.

[Narci]

^ Agree

If I quit my job, I don't get EI yet I paid EI for the last decade.

Your Co-Op term is a contractual agreement, you weren't fired or laid off.

[any007]

you can get UI as long as your ROE when you leave says shortage of work.

[YYC27]

If it were impossible to receive EI at the end of a co-op term, then the income would be EI-exempt. The requirements quoted above mention seasonal work which is the same, in that you know going in that you won't have a job at the end of the summer/winter/whatever.

As long as he's actually looking for work, I see no abuse. If he's gonna just sit on the couch watching TV for the next 4 months, then yeah, that would be abusive.

[Ceryx]

If it were impossible to receive EI at the end of a co-op term, then the income would be EI-exempt. The requirements quoted above mention seasonal work which is the same, in that you know going in that you won't have a job at the end of the summer/winter/whatever.

As long as he's actually looking for work, I see no abuse. If he's gonna just sit on the couch watching TV for the next 4 months, then yeah, that would be abusive.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/application/applying_for_benefits.shtml#Who

You can receive regular benefits if you lost your job through no fault of your own, for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs. To find out about the requirements for regular benefits...You can also receive maternity, parental and/or sickness benefits if pregnant, caring for a newborn or adopted child or sick. To find out about the requirements for maternity, parental and sickness benefits... You can receive fishing benefits if you are a person engaged in fishing.To find out about the requirements for fishing benefits...


EI is intended to help people who got laid off, not all unemployed people. if you get fired, you don't get EI as well.

When does co-op becomes seasonal work? Technically, you quit in the end of the term to go back to school.

I pay EI every month and if i decide to go to school, i won't apply for EI as i wasn't laid off/let go.

People like you folks abuse the good system we have and tries to make logical on RFD. It makes me sick.

[YYC27]

When does co-op becomes seasonal work?
I never said co-op was seasonal work. I said they were similar, in that in both cases you know ahead of time when you're not going to have a job.

Technically, you quit in the end of the term to go back to school.
Saying he's quit implies that he had the option to stay.

[Ceryx]

I never said co-op was seasonal work. I said they were similar, in that in both cases you know ahead of time when you're not going to have a job.

Saying he's quit implies that he had the option to stay.

The important point is that employer don't laid off co-op.

EI is for people got laid off, not for people who got fired or quit their job.

[YYC27]

The important point is that employer don't laid off co-op.

EI is for people got laid off, not for people who got fired or quit their job.
He wasn't fired, and he didn't quit. EI's for people who find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own (i.e., they didn't quit without just cause, and they weren't fired for misconduct).

This guy isn't planning on returning to school for another four months, so what problem do you have with him using the benefits he's paid into?

[danfromwaterloo]

EI is designed for people who lose their job and cannot find another one. Not kids looking for free drinking money.

I look forward to your future thread: "I collected EI and now I'm being charged for fraud"

[goobelygoop]

:lol:

Suck it up and continue school till your next job. You were released on good terms, there's no reason to collect EI.

LOL @ all the responses!

What is everyone so worked up about??? I called Service Canada this afternoon and they THEMSELVES said it was FINE! (I got the woman's name/ID/badge# too). So you should all just get off your high horses and stop worrying....for those who helped, thanks. For those who think I'm abusing the system......*shrug*

[any007]

chances are if you're on coop, the company will put on your ROE return to school.
which means, you can forget about UI.

unless, you can convince them to put shortage of work on your ROE.

[brunes]

Just curious if anyone can help (I was going to call Service Canada, but the hold is unbelievable...)

SO I've been working at my co-op job for the past 8 months, and will be let go next week as it's the end of the term.
Since I won't be going back to school until January (that's when my master's program begins), would I be eligible to apply for EI for Sept-Dec?
I know I have enough hours and probably meet all the "technical" requirements - but does the fact that I was in a co-op program disqualify me?

You qualify, but remember you will only qualify so long as you are ready and able to work and actively looking for a job. If you are just sitting on your butt not looking for a job, they will pull your EI. Which is likely the case since your semester starts in Jan.

[porkchop009]

when you're on co-op your starting date and end dates are agreed upon before the start of your work term. You don't get laid off with co-op (generally).

co-op students aren't eligible for a lot of things, like vacation pay and over time.




come on man don't abuse the system

[inassod]

when you're on co-op your starting date and end dates are agreed upon before the start of your work term. You don't get laid off with co-op (generally). co-op students aren't eligible for a lot of things, like vacation pay and over time.come on man don't abuse the system

Not sure about Co'op however if the contract dates are finalized for start and stop - ROE will carry contract end and you certainly qualify for EI. Is the ROE says returning to school - you cant collect EI. Just curious what does your ROE say at the first place ?

[Neovingian]

So much misinfomation in this thread. But in a nutshell, yes OP you may qualify. The rules regarding EI qualification have changed slightly over the years and will continue to. EI isn't soley for people who have been laid off, and not everyone who's been laid off automatically qualifies.
There also s also special benefits which can cover people who are sick, injured, pregnant or new mothers, parents, people looking after other ill people.

Regardless of the reason for not working, even if you were fired or quit you can still get EI. Don't believe the hype. No harm in trying....As someone who works closely with lawyers & clerks & employment lawyers, its their position to understand EI legislation to better assist their clientele...it also helps if you have them on spee dial & BBM. If things get out of hand on here I may have to start one of those ask me anything about EI threads? ...LOL!....pardon me, I know its not funny as EI is a sensitive issue for some.

You may want to start here:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/regular.shtml#eligible

[Ceryx]

So much misinfomation in this thread. But in a nutshell, yes OP you may qualify. The rules regarding EI qualification have changed slightly over the years and will continue to. EI isn't soley for people who have been laid off, and not everyone who's been laid off automatically qualifies.
There also s also special benefits which can cover people who are sick, injured, pregnant or new mothers, parents, people looking after other ill people.

Regardless of the reason for not working, even if you were fired or quit you can still get EI. Don't believe the hype. No harm in trying....As someone who works closely with lawyers & clerks & employment lawyers, its their position to understand EI legislation to better assist their clientele...it also helps if you have them on spee dial & BBM. If things get out of hand on here I may have to start one of those ask me anything about EI threads? ...LOL!....pardon me, I know its not funny as EI is a sensitive issue for some.

You may want to start here:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/regular.shtml#eligible

Do you even ready your own link?

This is under "who is eligiable" section:
If you voluntarily quit your job without just cause or if you are fired due to your own misconduct, you will not be paid regular benefits.

It's one thing to abuse the system, another thing to think it's right to do it.

[mocha'n'me]

OP... sounds like you qualify as long as you have the proper wording on your ROE. Since you plan on returning to school full time in January, you probably won't qualify then. However, if you have them approve your education they may provide partial funding.

In my opinion, I would rather the money I've paid in to EI over the years go to someone that is actually trying to improve their situation by going to school then someone who got laid off and is just riding the Pogey train. There's too many people out there that only work the required number of hours and then ask for a layoff.

You paid + you qualify = you deserve it!

[GSRee]

Do you even ready your own link?

This is under "who is eligiable" section:
If you voluntarily quit your job without just cause or if you are fired due to your own misconduct, you will not be paid regular benefits.

It's one thing to abuse the system, another thing to think it's right to do it.

He said you CAN still get EI if you're fired or quit, not that you WILL. It's definitely harder to qualify, but there are situations that will.

As you quoted, voluntarily quitting your job WITHOUT CAUSE, or being fired for YOUR OWN MISCONDUCT will disqualify you. But if you quit with cause (harrassment?), or are fired through no fault of your own (scapegoat?), you'll likely qualify.

[Khrak]

The important point is that employer don't laid off co-op.

EI is for people got laid off, not for people who got fired or quit their job.

Here's a thought...
If he doesn't qualify, then you're right.
If he doesn't qualify, then you're obviously wrong.

EI is for whoever the government says is eligible, not for who you think should be getting it.

I am actually curious if I will qualify... I'm currently on a 16-month co-op. When I go back to school I'll be looking for another job locally while I'm at school. Why shouldn't I be eligible while I search for another job? They sure as hell are happy to collect the money from my paycheque.

[GSRee]

I am actually curious if I will qualify... I'm currently on a 16-month co-op. When I go back to school I'll be looking for another job locally while I'm at school. Why shouldn't I be eligible while I search for another job? They sure as hell are happy to collect the money from my paycheque.

It's not likely that you'll qualify since if you're in school, it's hard to make the argument that you're ready, willing and able to accept full-time employment.

That said, I do know someone who was in school, working very part time (<5 hours per week), and collecting EI. So while I still don't think it's likely, apparently it is possible that you could be eligible to collect.

[Khrak]

That said, I do know someone who was in school, working very part time (<5 hours per week), and collecting EI. So while I still don't think it's likely, apparently it is possible that you could be eligible to collect.

In my final year I'll only have ~18hours/week of mandatory class hours. No reason I couldn't work 30hr/week on top of that. Hell, I did 30 hours a week in my first year with 35hr/week in classes.

Not sure about Co'op however if the contract dates are finalized for start and stop - ROE will carry contract end and you certainly qualify for EI. Is the ROE says returning to school - you cant collect EI. Just curious what does your ROE say at the first place ?

when you're on co-op your starting date and end dates are agreed upon before the start of your work term. You don't get laid off with co-op (generally).

There is no end-of-contract code. The proper code for an end of contract is "A" - Shortage of Work. The same as for a layoff.



From http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/employers/roe_guide.shtml
Helpful hint: If the reason for issuing the ROE is an end of contract, an end of season, a temporary shutdown of operations or any other reason equivalent to a "shortage of work", indicate reason code "A". Do not include these comments in Block 18.


co-op students aren't eligible for a lot of things, like vacation pay and over time.

True, but that is because co-op students are exempt from the ESA, which is unrelated to EI.