Parental Leave & EI

[284_226]

Did a search, and didn't come across this particular situation...

We're expecting our first child on Aug 20.  My wife is already off on EI sick benefit, which I understand don't interfere with maternity/parental benefits.  When the child is born, she'll commence maternity benefits for 15 weeks, and then parental for up to 35.  As a serving member, if I take parental benefits, I understand they get shared with my wife and we can only take 35 weeks combined.

As it stands, I plan to take a month off, which would mean my wife goes back to work one month early, which would be Jul 08.  The only wrinkle is - I fully expect to be posted next summer.  I was due for a posting this year, but the CM agreed to defer it one year as a move was strongly discouraged by my wife's doctor - so it's safe to say I'm on the hit list for next year.

Here's my query - If I understand things correctly, my wife will be able to collect regular EI benefits at a new posting if we're moved next July, after parental benefits run out.  The EI website is less than clear on the subject.

I didn't find out until today that parental leave is supposed to be requested 8 weeks prior to taking it, so I'm down to the wire if I want to take it immediately after our child is born.  Has anyone been in this situation before?  I'll be making a call to EI on Tuesday after the long weekend, but if anyone has any information they can offer in the meantime it'd be appreciated.

 

[Keebler]

About 5 yrs ago when i went on mat leave, i was advised that after my mat leave and parental leave when my husband was transferred with his job that i could not collect regular ei as i had not aquired any work hours between mat/parental leave and the move. calling EI and posing the questions is your best option, they dont state much on their website. they are very helpful over the phone though. And as for the EI sick benefits being seperate from mat/parental, that is true, but she has to have enough hours for both to get the full benefit. My cousin took 9 weeks off before the baby was born due to health concerns and she had to cut her mat/parental early because of it. Another side note, if you plan on taking a month off, your wife would have to work. You cant both be off on Mat/Parental leave with Ei at the same time. Only one at a time, and yes the time is shared.  Thats just from my own experience, best thing is to call though and ask them the questions.

 

[284_226]

About 5 yrs ago when i went on mat leave, i was advised that after my mat leave and parental leave when my husband was transferred with his job that i could not collect regular ei as i had not aquired any work hours between mat/parental leave and the move. calling EI and posing the questions is your best option, they dont state much on their website. they are very helpful over the phone though.

That's the part that's confusing.  It appears as though they treat MAT/PAT benefits and EI regular benefits as two completely separate beasts.  I'll be curious to see what the answer is to this one.

And as for the EI sick benefits being seperate from mat/parental, that is true, but she has to have enough hours for both to get the full benefit. My cousin took 9 weeks off before the baby was born due to health concerns and she had to cut her mat/parental early because of it.

I think that may have changed since then.  My wife has already been told that her sick benefits will run until the baby is born, and then the MAT/PAT benefits take over.

Another side note, if you plan on taking a month off, your wife would have to work. You cant both be off on Mat/Parental leave with Ei at the same time. Only one at a time, and yes the time is shared.  Thats just from my own experience, best thing is to call though and ask them the questions.

That part has definitely changed too.  The one phone call we did have with the EI people indicated that we can both be off at the same time.

 

[armyvern]

EI benefits are transferable to another Province. They are a federal matter, as is the leave. You've got the leave part correct the entitlement for up to 35 weeks is shared by the household so if you take 4 weeks, she can then take the remaining 31.

I still collected after being posted during my mat leave, simply sent them in a change of address and my stubs were mailed to me there.

 

[284_226]

I'll clarify a little - when the posting comes around, she'll just be finishing up her Parental benefits, and would be headed back to work (were it not for the move to another province).

Once we get to the new posting, would she then be eligible for regular EI benefits, considering she was forced to move to accompany me at the new posting, despite not having any insurable income during the last 52 weeks?  (since she'd have been on Mat/Pat benefits)...

 

[SeaKingTacco]

You cant both be off on Mat/Parental leave with Ei at the same time. Only one at a time, and yes the time is shared.

Not Correct.  Yes, the 35 weeks can be shared between parents as previously described, but there is nothing saying that both parents can't collect at the same time.  How do I know?  I just got off parental leave in Apr- both my wife and I collected EI at the same time.

 

[armyvern]

I'll clarify a little - when the posting comes around, she'll just be finishing up her Parental benefits, and would be headed back to work (were it not for the move to another province).

Once we get to the new posting, would she then be eligible for regular EI benefits, considering she was forced to move to accompany me at the new posting, despite not having any insurable income during the last 52 weeks?  (since she'd have been on Mat/Pat benefits)...

Seen,

I'd say yes. But to comply with the requirements for collecting regular EI, she'd have to show that she was "currently" looking for work to collect. Their "attended job interviews" requirement if you will. As to her not having insurable earnings during the previous 52, she was exempt from working those particular 52 and exempt from that "proof of looking for work caveat" due to governmental Mat/Pat policy.

I've seen this happen once, but am unsure as to whether she collected her regular UI based upon her income for the 52 weeks prior to her Mat/Pat leave (ie her last 52 weeks of work), or whether they figured out her entitlement based upon what she collected from them during her 52 weeks on Mat/Pat. I think it was based upon her 52 weeks of Mat/Pat benefits as I seem to recall her saying that her benefits dropped with the move to regular EI while she looked for work at their new posting. I'll fire her off an email to confirm.

 

[284_226]

Thanks, that'd be appreciated.  She does intend to look for work at the new posting (which would likely be Trenton), but your guess is as good as mine as to whether there's much call for ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers, or low-level French teachers in and around that area.  We're more concerned about her having no benefits at all after being moved to a new posting, since she'd only just be coming off maternity/parental benefits.  Some regular EI coverage would be nice until she could find work in her field, which would likely be in Kingston or east end Toronto - where the universities are.

 

[armyvern]

Belleville has an ESL program. Well they did when I was there anyway ... (Edited to add: they still do...links attached at bottom)

BTW, you'll be quite pleased with just the "extra" you'll be saving in friggin' taxes with a posting to Trenton from your current location. It'll make up for some of her loss if the regular EI is based on her 52 weeks of Mat/Pat and sees it going down.

Loyalist College ESL Programs & Services

Albert College

Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board

There are French Schooling Programs offered in the schools in Trenton (some of the schools are located in the PMQ area):
The Trenton MFRC offers these links for info/contact:
http://www.trentonmfrc.cfbtrenton.com/index.php?menu=4&submenu=0&program=3

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

, or low-level French teachers in and around that area.  .

Trust me, get her name in "the system" now and she will be, at the minimum, substitute teaching at her convienence.

If you need more info on contacts, etc., PM me.

 

[284_226]

Belleville has an ESL program. Well they did when I was there anyway ... (Edited to add: they still do...links attached at bottom)

Thanks very much for the links - I'll pass those along to her.

BTW, you'll be quite pleased with just the "extra" you'll be saving in friggin' taxes with a posting to Trenton from your current location. It'll make up for some of her loss if the regular EI is based on her 52 weeks of Mat/Pat and sees it going down.

You're preaching to the choir    I grew up in Ontario...just got back from visiting there for a couple of weeks.  It's disgusting what we pay for goods and services on the east coast, not to mention taxes.  I've been in the Hfx area 21 years, and although I always thought I'd retire here, I'm having second thoughts. 

 

[284_226]

Trust me, get her name in "the system" now and she will be, at the minimum, substitute teaching at her convienence.

If you need more info on contacts, etc., PM me.

Is that with the public school system?  She doesn't have a B.Ed, unfortunately...she's been doing mostly EAP/IELTS/TOEFL/TOEIC for the last 9 years, interspersed with low-level French classes to Public Service employees earlier in her career.  Her French is....well, rusty at best.  She used to be fluently bilingual (grew up in Montreal).

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

My wife did the substitute teaching thing for many years and also did a whole year as a teachers asst. to a child with special needs and all she has is a GED she [we] received whilst posted to NB. She just got a full-time job as a Secretary of a French school in Mississauga.

Tell her to oil up her French and working won't be a problem. [public or separate]

 

[284_226]

Well, the official word from the EI people is this:

A person just coming off maternity/parental benefits, and is then subjected to a move (as my wife will be next July), is not eligible for regular EI benefits.  Reason?  No insurable hours.

Guess it doesn't matter that she would have had a job to go back to, if she remained here.

Lovely.  Just lovely.      <---------highly censored version of my response