websheep

Hello all,

I need your expert advise

I've been a PR for about a year and a bit now, happily paying EI. However, I hadn't realized that because I got PR via Family sponsorship (my wife), I can't ever claim any of it.

Just wondering if it's possible to opt-out and get a refund for EI paid?

Many thanks!

Almost Canadian

Ha Ha Ha - I see April Fool's is very late this year

MB-Realtor

Are you working for a family member? If so then you can not claim EI and you can claim back any payments made in error, within certain time limits, you opt-out by stop paying.

If you are not working for a family member I believe you should be just as eligible for EI payments as anyone else, and can not opt-out..

Atlantic Xpat

If you mean that because you were sponsored by your wife and she is obliged to financially support you and that means that you wouldn't be entitled to EI then thats incorrect. The commitment the sponsor takes on is to provide for you without recourse to social assistance and thats different from EI. Having paid into EI and built up enough hours, you would be entitled to EI. I explored this a year into my PR in Canada after being unexpectedly being made redundant.

AX

Juliew

I believe that you can get for EI if you qualify. You can't get welfare as a family sponsored PR but EI is different. Actually you can get welfare but your sponsor will get in trouble. I don't believe a person on a work permit can get EI. Unfortunately, everyone that is employed by someone has to pay into EI. There are no refunds - from my knowledge

JonboyE

There are further limits on this. If the family member is employed on the same terms and conditions as joe public the employment is insurable.

websheep

Thanks everyone for your advice! I wasn't employed by a family member. I was just under the wrong impression EI was social assistance.

Guess I should apply for EI then