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In Canada, the government offers financial support to people who are without work. Learn whether you are eligible for employment insurance benefits, and the steps to apply for benefits.

This chapter on employment insurance is from the manual used by law students handling cases at LSLAP’s legal clinics. It provides an overview of how to apply for EI (as well as how to appeal) and summarizes the law relating to qualification requirements, benefit rates, penalties, and offences.

Explains the steps you need to take to make an employment standards complaint to the BC Employment Standards Branch. It covers what you should know, including the limits on what you can complain about, and that employers can’t fire you for making a complaint. There are links to helpful agencies and where you can get free or low-cost legal help.

The page covers EI benefits and leave information for workers, families, fishers, and sickness. It links to how to apply, to submit a report, to view claims, and also links to the EI forms. Other benefits include regular, caregiving, fishing, sickness, maternity and parental, benefits for the self-employed, and benefits for Canadians living abroad.

If you think your spouse or parent didn’t leave you enough, you can ask the court to rewrite the will so you receive a larger share. It explains who can bring a wills variation claim, and explains the steps to take if you want to challenge the will. Answers common questions, and links to free or low-cost legal help and how to find a lawyer.

Explains employers’ responsibilities in ensuring the EI program is administered fairly and efficiently. The information includes preparing records of employment, deducting and remitting EI premiums, and the EI premium reduction program. It explains supplementing EI benefits. The page also links to help if you need to reduce your workforce.

If Service Canada made a decision about your employment insurance and you don’t agree with it, you can ask them to reconsider, and then appeal to the Social Security Tribunal (SST). This page explains how to do this, including the levels of appeal and the various deadlines.

The standards about work hours, including minimum daily pay and overtime, and when employees need to be paid for travel time. Also explains what it means to have an averaging agreement (agreeing to an average of work hours over a specific number of weeks), or a variance from the employment standard.

Explains the main law in BC setting out the rights of workers: the Employment Standards Act. Most (but not all) workers in the province are protected under this law. Learn if you’re covered. Topics include exceptions, if you’re a union member, and if you’re not covered by employment standards legislation.

How to submit a complaint to resolve a problem at work — for example, requesting payment for wages that you’re owed. Includes filing a complaint, investigation, mediation, hearing, decision, and appealing a decision.