HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-11-10, Page 35"I hear
there's been
some
changes in
Unemployment Insurance.
What's the story?"
New legislation has changed some of
the ground rules of our UI program.
In general, the rules of eligibility
and payment have been improved. Now
they more accurately reflect the ease or
difficulty of finding and keeping a job in
the region in which each UI claimant
lives.
Parliament has decided that people
who live in areas of high unemployment
will be given certain advantages over
those who live where jobs are more
plentiful.
"That's all well and good.
But what does it mean to
thep erson who just lost a job?"
On December 4, the entrance
requirements will change.
In regions of low unemployment,
claimants will need up to 14 weeks of
insurable employment to get UI benefits.
This will only happen in places where it's
easier to get and keep a job.
In regions of high unemployment,
claimants will need as little as 10 weeks
to qualify.
But until December 4, the entrance
requirement remains at eight weeks
wherever you live.
"Does all this affect
the waiting period?"
No. The basic two week waiting
period remains the same everywhere.
And so do the rules about setting the
waiting period when a claimant has left
his or her job for no good reason or been
fired for misconduct. In such cases, a
claimant may have to wait up to eight
weeks from ' when employment ends until
benefits become payable.
"And how long can you get
benefits for?"
The old maximum was 51 weeks.
The new maximum is 50 weeks.
But since September 11, the total
number of weeks for which a claimant
qualifies also reflects the unemployment
rate in his or her region.
Right now, we measure unemploy-
ment by dividing Canada into 16
economic regions. Later, in 1978, we will
fine-tune the program to 54 regions so
that UI will be even more closely related
to local labour market conditions.
"Do you still get the same
amount of money?"
Absolutely. The UI benefit rate is
two-thirds of your average weekly insur-
able earnings.
The maximum is $147, less tax.
•
"Then
there's
maternity,
sickness and
age 65 benefits.
Any changes there?"
Sickness benefits were only payable
during the first 39 weeks of the claim.
Now they are payable at any time during
the entire benefit period.
Maternity benefits of 15 weeks and
the special one-time benefit (equal to
three weeks' benefits) at age 65 remain
the same.
The same people will still pay for
the program in the sane proportions, and
the types of employ ent insurable for UI
remains the sane, to ' .
"Lots
of other
countries
have unem-
ployment
insurance.
What's s0
good about our system?"
Canada has oRe df the most compre-
hensive UI programs in the western
world.
It has a relatively short entrance
period and pays benefits longer. And
almost all Canadians share in the cost and
benefit of the apgram. gi
By reduc the fin cial shock of
people's movement from one ' job to
another, unemployment insurance has
helped to keep our workforce adaptable
to today's rapidly changing social and
economic conditions.
"Sure. But wI at about the
cost to Canadians?"
Certainly, the dollar figures are high.
This year's UI payout to Canadians will
approach four billion dollars.
But consider
that figure in light of
the ultimate benefits' to the country.
The UI program gives temporary
financial aid to hundreds of thousands of
Canadians while they're between jobs.
"Isn't UI really just another
kind of welfare?...- •
Far from it.;.. Velf fg money is paid
only according to need.
Unemployment insurance money is
paid according to eligibility.
.It's like any other kind of insurance.
0
rf you've worked in insurable employ=
ment, and a situation arises which entitles
you to make a claim, that claim will be
settled as quickly and courteously as
possible.
"Well, what do you do about
cheaters and abuse?"
There are fewer cheaters and abusers
than some would have you believe.
Outright criminal fraud is dealt with
through conventional channels.
- Some people abuse the system
without even knowing it. Here, and at
times when the abuse is not really crim-
inal in nature, we have our own staff to
handle the problems.
In any case, the vast majority of UI
claimants deal with us as fairly, as we try
to deal with them.
"How
about when
I make
a claim
and you say
If you have good reason to disagree
with any decision a UI agent makes on
your claim, you have the right to appeal
that decision to an independent and
impartial board of referees, or then to an
Umpire of the Federal Court.
You can go to the appeal hearing and
be represented by anyoneyou wish.
And if new information comes to
light before or during 'the appeal, you can
go back to your agent and ask for a
review of the decision. And the whole
appeal process is free.
Remember, our job is to pay you all
the benefits you are entitled to.
`--NstOK,
what -lo
you have
to do while
you're receiving benefits?"
Your Unemployment Insurance
office can ask you to carry out what we
call a formal "Active Job Search". Your
agent will want to know what you're
doing to find suitable and gainful
employment while you're getting your
cheques.
But no matter what happens, you
should keep looking seriously for a new
job and follow any instructions your UI
office or Canada Manpower Centre gives
you. Your right to continuing benefits
depends on it.
If you'll do your job, we'll do ours.
"Some people say
Unemployment Insurance is too
tough. Some say you're too soft.
What do you say?"
Our policy is to be neither "tough"
nor "soft".
On one hand, we have a responsi-
bility to pay all those who are eligible the
full amount to which they are entitled.
And to do so quickly and courteously.
On the other hand, we have an
equally important responsibility to the
public to make sure the UI program is
not abused. Those who defraud the
program are stealing money right out of
your pockets.
It's a policy of balance. As you
know, you can't please all the people all
the time.