Quick answer: If you disagree with a Service Canada decision about Employment Insurance (EI) benefits or a repayment, you can request reconsideration. Complete, print and sign the official form, then submit it to Service Canada in person or by mail within 30 days after the decision was communicated to you. There is no fee.
What this means: A different Service Canada officer reviews the decision and the relevant evidence. New information can help clarify your claim, but you can request reconsideration even if you have nothing new to submit. A review does not guarantee a different outcome.
What to do next: Identify the decision you disagree with, check the date it was communicated to you, and open the official EI reconsideration form. If you have new information, send it promptly. Keep a copy of your signed request and supporting documents.
Who This Is For
This guide is for individuals who have received a decision from Service Canada regarding their Employment Insurance (EI) claim that they believe is incorrect. This includes situations where an application for regular benefits, sickness benefits, maternity or parental benefits, or caregiving benefits has been denied. It also applies to individuals who have been asked to repay EI benefits due to an overpayment or because they did not meet eligibility requirements during a specific period.
It is important to distinguish between a reconsideration and an appeal. A reconsideration is the first step in challenging a decision within Service Canada. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the reconsideration, you may then have the option to appeal to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal. This guide focuses specifically on the initial reconsideration process.
Check Decision and New Evidence
Before submitting a request for reconsideration, carefully review the decision letter you received. This document outlines the specific reasons why Service Canada made the decision. Understanding these reasons is crucial because your request should address them directly. Common reasons for denial include not meeting the required number of insurable hours, leaving a job voluntarily without just cause, or failing to be available for work.
Service Canada asks you to check whether you have new information that could affect the original decision, and to send it as soon as possible through its official channels. Depending on the issue, relevant records could include:
- Employer records that were previously missing or incorrect.
- Medical documents relevant to a sickness-benefit decision.
- Documentation proving you were actively looking for work.
- Clarifications regarding the reason for leaving your previous employment.
If you have no new information, or it does not change the original decision, Service Canada says you can still submit a reconsideration request. Explain clearly which decision you disagree with and why. Do not delay past the 30-day period while trying to gather a document that may not arrive in time.
30-Day Steps
The standard deadline is 30 days after the decision was communicated to you. This is not necessarily 30 days from when you last checked your online account. Use Service Canada’s reconsideration instructions and the official form for the current route.
Follow these steps to submit your request:
- Complete the form: Fill out all required fields accurately. Ensure your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and contact information are correct.
- Explain your case: In the designated section, clearly state why you disagree with the decision. Reference specific points from the decision letter and explain how your new evidence or arguments address them.
- Gather relevant information: Include documents that address the decision if you have them. Follow the form’s instructions about what to send.
- Print and sign: Complete, print, sign and date the form as Service Canada directs.
- Submit: Send it by mail or take it in person to Service Canada. Use the addresses or location guidance on the official form and Service Canada site.
There is no fee to submit a reconsideration request. Keep a copy of everything you send for your own records.
Late Request
If your request goes in after 30 days from when the decision was communicated, include your reason for the delay with the request. Service Canada says it may still accept a late request if it finds the explanation reasonable. It does not publish a guaranteed list of acceptable reasons on this process page. Give the accurate dates and circumstances; do not assume that sending a late form automatically extends the deadline.
What Happens
Once your request is received, a different Service Canada officer will review your case. This officer was not involved in the original decision. They will examine the original file, your new evidence, and your explanation for disagreeing with the decision.
Service Canada says it will complete the review as soon as possible, but the time varies with case complexity. It does not promise a fixed number of days on the reconsideration page. You will receive the reconsideration decision in writing.
If the decision is in your favour, Service Canada says it will adjust the claim and pay any benefits owed. If it is not in your favour, the officer will call to explain the result and appeal right, and a copy of the information used will be supplied separately. Keep the written result: it identifies the decision you may need to appeal.
Current Appeal Path
If you disagree with the outcome of the reconsideration, you may have the right to appeal to the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (EI BOA). This is an independent tribunal that reviews EI decisions.
Important details about the appeal path include:
- Deadline: You generally have 30 days from the date you receive the reconsideration decision to file an appeal with the EI BOA.
- Process: The appeal process is separate from Service Canada. You must follow the specific procedures outlined by the EI BOA.
- Change in Authority: As of April 1, 2026, the EI BOA replaced the Social Security Tribunal (SST) General Division for EI appeals. Ensure you use the current EI BOA resources for any appeal.
Use the EI Board of Appeal’s current starting-an-appeal instructions if you reach this stage. Its notice-of-appeal route is separate from the Service Canada reconsideration form.
Example: keep the two deadlines separate
Suppose you receive an EI decision and disagree with the information Service Canada used. First, identify when that decision was communicated and send a reconsideration request within 30 days of that date. If a later reconsideration decision is not in your favour, the separate 30-day period to appeal to the EI Board of Appeal runs from when you receive that later decision. This example illustrates the sequence only; neither request guarantees a particular result.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I submit my reconsideration request online?
- Service Canada’s current instructions say to complete, print and sign the form, then submit it in person or by mail. The later EI Board of Appeal stage has different submission options.
- Is there a fee to request a reconsideration?
- No. Service Canada says there is no fee for an EI reconsideration request.
- How long does the reconsideration take?
- Service Canada says timing varies with the complexity of the case. Its process page does not promise a fixed completion date.
- What if I miss the 30-day deadline?
- Send your request with the reason for the delay. Service Canada may accept it if it finds that explanation reasonable, but acceptance is not automatic.
- Where do I go if I disagree with the reconsideration decision?
- Check the EI Board of Appeal’s current notice-of-appeal process. The appeal period is 30 days after you receive the reconsideration decision.
Related Guides
If you are dealing with issues related to your employment history or work status while claiming benefits, you may find the following guides helpful:
Rules and process basis
The steps above come from Service Canada’s current EI reconsideration instructions and form, and the EI Board of Appeal’s appeal instructions. They are not a prediction of how your claim will be decided. The April 1, 2026 change matters only at the appeal stage: the EI Board of Appeal replaced the Social Security Tribunal General Division for appeals of EI reconsideration decisions.