Question Period Note: Clients having issues to access Employment Insurance (EI) benefits

What is Service Canada doing to address reports of some clients in Quebec experiencing issues receiving EI parental benefits?

• The Employment Insurance (EI) program provides economic security to millions of Canadians when they need it most.

• Since 2006, the Province of Quebec, provides maternity, parental, paternity, and adoption benefits to its residents.
• The Province entered into an agreement with the federal government to provide these benefits to residents of the province through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). Residents of Quebec should consult the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity of Quebec (MESSQ) to claim these benefits and to inquire about eligibility requirements.
• All other types of benefits delivered by EI, such as regular, sickness, and caregiving benefits, remain available to residents of Quebec.
• Claimants who received CERB benefits after receiving QPIP benefits need to have their situations reviewed prior to establishing a claim for EI benefits.
• Individual cases are currently being addressed on a priority basis to ensure claimants are paid as soon as possible.
• The Department understands the difficulties that any delay in benefit payments can cause to claimants.

Service Canada asks applicants if they have received QPIP benefits within the past 2 years to ensure that their EI claims are properly established, taking into consideration the QPIP benefits received.
Claimants who received CERB benefits after receiving QPIP benefits need to have their situations reviewed prior to establishing a claim for EI benefits.
The Department understands the difficulties that any delay in benefit payments can cause to claimants. Individual cases are currently being addressed on a priority basis.
To ensure claimants are paid as soon as possible.
For clients who need assistance:
• Residents of Quebec should consult the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity of Quebec (MESSQ) to claim maternity or parental benefits and to inquire about eligibility requirements.
• Clients can contact Service Canada by phone (1-800-206-7218) or in-person at the nearest Service Canada Centre if they have questions about their EI benefits.
• Clients are also encouraged to use the My Service Canada Account (Canada.ca/myservicecanadaaccount) to check the status of their EI application, sign-up for email notifications, and view current and past EI claims and Records of Employment.

• Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits are available across Canada except in the Province of Quebec, which, since 2006, provides maternity, parental, paternity and adoption benefits to its residents.
• The Province of Quebec entered into an agreement with the federal government to provide these benefits to residents of the province through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). Residents of Quebec should consult the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity of Quebec (MESSQ) to claim these benefits and to inquire about eligibility requirements.
• EI contributors in Quebec (i.e., workers and employers) benefit from a reduction of the EI premium rate, which reflects savings to the EI Operating Account as Quebec delivers its own maternity and parental program. The premium reduction is calculated in such a way that it would be cost neutral for Canada (i.e., does not consider the cost to Quebec of delivering the benefits).
• All other types of benefits delivered by EI, such as regular, sickness, and caregiving benefits, remain available to residents of Quebec.