Members who were on approved WSIB or other medical leave before the break, who returned to regular work duties before the break.
- Apply for regular EI benefits using the following link.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit.html
Members on approved WSIB or other medical leave who had not yet returned to full regular work duties and hours.
Members on WSIB leave (for injuries or illnesses caused by work):
- Contact your WSIB case manager as soon as possible and ask if WSIB will be paying you directly for the break.
If the answer is yes:
- check to make sure you receive this payment from the WSIB (by direct deposit, if you have this set up, or by cheque in the mail
- if you do not receive this payment in one month, follow up with your case manager and be sure your address and email are correct, etc.
If the answer is no, complete the following:
- ask your case manager to send you a decision letter
- when you receive WSIB’s decision (by email or regular mail, depending what you have arranged with WSIB), send an Intent to Object form to the WSIB immediately (available on the WSIB’s website – for help, contact workersafety@opseu.org )
- after you have sent the Intent to the Object form to the WSIB, email the decision letter and your completed WSIB Intent to Object form to workersafety@opseu.org
- ALSO immediately apply for EI sickness benefits with the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html
- ALSO send EI your medical certificate immediately once it has been completed by your family doctor, nurse practitioner, or walk-in clinic: https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/Detail.html?Form=INS5140
If WSIB says they will not send you your decision letter, or if your EI request is denied, notify OPSEU Benefits Officers at workersafety@opseu.org and Karen Gventer at kgventer@opseu.org.
Members on other medical leaves (for non-work-related illnesses or injuries, or work injures not yet approved by WSIB), complete the following:
- apply for EI Sickness Benefits at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html
- ALSO send EI your Medical Certificate once it has been completed by your treating physician: https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/Detail.html?Form=INS5140
Note: If you are on long term disability benefits (LTD), your benefits should continue as they have been. No further action is necessary.
If your LTD benefits stop during the lay off period, contact our OPSEU Staff Representative Karen Gventer at kgventer@opseu.org.