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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.