We had to have a battle with EI yesterday.
Jason started back to school last week and he filled out his online application for EI and dropped off his record of employment last week already. I've already been very nervous about us both being on EI for the next 3 months, epecially because it's Christmas time!
Each year he goes to school for 10 weeks and he doesn't have to go through the 2 week waiting period like you normally do so at least we don't get backed up on bills while we wait but last year, we were sure there was an error in his claim as he was getting like $200/week less than his classmates who were all making the same wage as he was. He called EI and they said there were no errors. We just left it at that because, really, what can you do? At least I was working so it didn't hit us too badly last year.
Back to this year. He recieves his personal access code in the mail and goes online to check what he'll be receiving this year for payments and again, there has to be a mistake. He is still receiving the same amount he received last year and he's making $5/hour more this year. Of course the panic sets in for me because that is just not going to pay the bills!
He calls the woman that came to his class last week to explain to everyone how to apply and she said that his claim from last time is still open. I guess after 1 year, the claim closes, if you want it closed to file a new claim, you can't do that online, you have to call the 800 number to cancel the previous claim before filing a new one.
For anyone who has tried to call these government numbers, you know that it is almost impossible to actually talk to someone unless you have like an hour to wait on hold! Jason didn't think that he needed to call this number because he went to school last year in August so his claim should have been closed already.
Last night, he got home from school and sat on hold for 20 minutes before finally getting to talk to someone. I guess there was something funny about last year and it had not been a year. I'm not sure how the government works but August 2009 until November 2010 is more than a year. No? After a very lengthy conversation with the woman, they come to the conclusion that it is possible his boss filled out his ROE wrong. She tells him to get his boss to fill out a new one and refile his claim. They cancelled out the previous claim so it would not be an issue.
He went to his bosses house and the realized that he did infact fill out his ROE from last year wrong, but not altering it as much as we thought it would have. The lady from EI said we could bring in a new ROE from last year as well and there was a slight possibility that they could reimburse us for what we did not recieve last year. The amount wasn't significant enought to bother, it was like $300 or so, which yes, we could use right now, but is it worth the trouble?
They decided the ROE from this year is infact correct so now we just have to wait and see if his claim is adjusted. He was supposed to receive payment this week already but now we may have to wait until the next pay period, that is crappy, but it could make a difference of like $200/week. I am willing wait!
I just love dealing with the government!
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