2.2 - Awaiting Employment Insurance

In order to eliminate dual payments of assistance and Employment Insurance (EI), the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form has been developed to reimburse to SD assistance payments made to individuals who are eligible for and awaiting Employment Insurance benefits at a monthly rate higher than assistance rates.

The AOB form is not intended to cover the two week Employment Insurance (EI) waiting period which is determined by Social Development Canada. Depending on their income and the criteria indicated in this policy, applicants may be entitled to assistance during this period. In order to determine eligibility, verification should be made of:

• the date and amounts of the final pay; and
• the time period covered by this pay (with employer or from the layoff slip), and
• the dates of the EI waiting period

To calculate monthly EI benefit rates, multiply the gross weekly EI rate by 4.3.

All applicants, clients, and dependents who are eligible to receive EI benefits at a monthly rate higher than the applicable assistance rate, are required to complete the AOB form.

All applicants, clients, and dependents who are eligible to receive EI benefits at a monthly rate lower than the applicable assistance rate, have no need to complete the AOB form, as there will be no reimbursement to SD.

Social Development Canada will reimburse SD at a rate determined by the Minimum Living Allowance (MLA) which the case manager indicates on the AOB. This amount (MLA) is the basic household rate of assistance which the household would be entitled to if not awaiting EI divided by 4.3.

Assistance rates for clients awaiting EI are determined using the eligibility rules as defined in the Rate Determination Policy.

Units without dependents aged less than 19 years

These units are not eligible to receive assistance during the two week EI waiting period. After that period is over, these units may receive assistance at the determined rate and must sign the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form if their EI benefits are more than the basic unit rate. 

Units with dependents aged less than 19 years

These units may receive up to two weeks assistance during the EI waiting period at the determined rate, without signing an AOB form, depending on their income during that same period. Following that period, they can continue to receive assistance until EI is received, but must sign AOB forms every two weeks. Assistance must not be issued beyond the period covered by the AOB form.

Assistance for those awaiting Employment Insurance is issued in amounts which are usually for two weeks except for the first month of assistance, which is always issued by NB Case for the balance of the month (this could be a period of more or less than a two week period). That is, for these applicants, assistance is usually calculated by the week and not by the month.

The amount of assistance is calculated as follows:

1. Number of days to be paid divided by
2. Number of days in the month - this total is multiplied by
3. The total of:
   -  the Basic household Rate minus
   -  the monthly income for the household
   -  any prior assistance for the same period
   -  any deductions

Applicants, clients and dependents who are disqualified from receiving EI may be issued assistance without completing an Assignment Of Benefits (AOB) form, but must be advised:

• that an information sharing agreement exists between SD and Social Development Canada and

if they appeal the EI ruling and win, and are awarded retroactive EI benefits, SD will be advised through the regular information sharing process. An overpayment will be calculated and they will be responsible to reimburse for the time period for which they received assistance and received subsequent EI benefits.

For self-employed fishermen generating EI benefits, see Fishermen.

Open cases would not be subject to any rate reduction because of a member is awaiting EI.