What if I do not agree with a decision about EI?

You can appeal most decisions about your EI claim.

The first step is to ask Service Canada for a reconsideration of the decision. This means that you ask them to review and change their decision.

You can ask for a reconsideration if Service Canada:

• refuses to give you benefits
• gives you the wrong amount of benefits
• tells you to pay back some benefits
• gives you a penalty or sends you a warning letter

You must ask for the reconsideration in writing. You must make sure Service Canada gets it within 30 days of when you got the decision.

If you miss this deadline, you can ask for an extension. But you must give a good reason for why you were late.

How do I ask for a reconsideration?

You have to use a form called Request for Reconsideration. You can get this form online at ei.gc.ca.

Or go to canada.ca/en and type ins5210 in the search box.

After you fill out and sign the form, take it to your local Service Canada Centre. Or mail it to a regional Service Canada Centre.

The mailing address for Ontario is Service Canada, P.O. Box 2602, Mississauga, Ontario L4T 0B1.

What happens when I ask for a reconsideration?

Someone from Service Canada will contact you to talk about your EI claim. Give them any new information you have and explain why you think they should change the decision.

Read more about reconsiderations at canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-reconsideration.

Service Canada could:

• keep the original decision
• change the decision completely
• make some changes to the decision

They will tell you their decision by phone or in a letter.

If you do not agree with Service Canada’s decision, you may be able to appeal to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal. There’s more in CLEO’s resource Employment Insurance.

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