If you’re experiencing high levels of uncertainty, stress or even mental illness, you can visit your family doctor for guidance. In this appointment, it's okay to briefly explain your situation and say something along the lines of, “I'm having trouble figuring out where to start when it comes to applying for the necessary supports after my layoff. Can you please refer me to a social worker who can walk me through the process?”

Why a social worker? If you're facing difficult circumstances post-layoff, a social worker can likely help with a great number of things on your to-do list free of charge, including:

• applying for Employment Insurance benefits
• applying for Income Support benefits
• applying for provincial Disability benefits
• accessing local food banks
• much more: social workers are a wealth of information and resources, and the work they do is so important!

In Canada, if you’re having taxes deducted from your earnings then you’re probably also contributing to Employment Insurance (EI) for just such an occasion as a layoff.

How do I apply for EI? Government websites are notoriously confusing, so we thought we'd walk you through where to find correct application. To apply online, click here and read through all information listed while scrolling down to the button that says 'Apply'. this will lead you to pirvacy information, and a 'Start Application' button.

Helpful Tips for Navigating EI:

• When applying for EI, you will be asked for your Record of Employment. It's okay if you don’t have a copy, the government can request one from your former Employer.
• You will be sent a four-digit code on a piece of paper in the mail, and you cannot move further in the process until you have that code in your hands. We know: it's inconvenient, but it’s unfortunately necessary to prevent fraud and identity theft.
• You must submit a report every two weeks from when you submit your application. You do this by logging in here with your social insurance number and the four-digit code you received in the mail.
• The wording on the website can be confusing for some, but the gist is that you must submit reports in order to begin receiving benefits. They won’t begin to send you money until you submit a report, so it's important to submit each report on time.
• Reports are filed biweekly to notify the government of any income received for work done in that two-week window. Tax returns don’t count as income and there’s no need to report that amount.

In short, if you get paid for contract work you have to report it, but if you receive $20 from an aunt for your birthday, you don’t have to report it.

When you feel ready to put yourself back out there and seek out your next opportunity, a Recruitment Expert can be an excellent partner in your job search.

DID YOU KNOW: Recruiters do most of the work for you, totally free of charge! Their job is to place amazing Candidates like yourself in front of career opportunities and often negotiate with the Employer on your behalf. 

One of Team Cormack’s goals is to be a champion for our Candidates during the entire hiring process. This means that we take the time to get to know your strengths and the unique talents you bring to the table, and advocate for you from that very first interview to "hired" and beyond!

To learn more about our services and how you can be considered for the Cormack SHORTLIST, click here.

Wherever you're at in your post-layoff journey, we wish you all the best and know that you'll be a valuable addition to whichever team is lucky enough to have you!