Any tips for dealing with Employment Insurance bureaucracy

I will be having my surgery on May 26th.

Because I work part-time as a registered nurse I do not get paid sick time and since none of my patients weigh less than 10 lbs I will likely be off work the 8 weeks that I can't lift, push or pull more than 10 lbs.

Does anyone have any experience dealing with Employment Insurance  and/or any tips on how to navigate through the system.

You might speak to HR and see if you can be assigned light duties for 4-6 weeks. I work as an RN in home care and was able to go back one week post-op. I too had no paid sick time. UI makes you wait 2 weeks, then it's not very much $. Check with your union rep if you have one.

hi, I work PT too. I just had a note for my employer that I was having surgery, then filled out a form at HR, got pay roll to send a record of employment to the EI office on the last day of work, then I went to EI the next day and applied for sick benefits. They grant 9 weeks initially. I diddn't have any trouble getting benefits.

It is very simple, get your Record of Employment (some do it electronically sent to Servicec Canada) and fill out the Service Canada request on-line. I never had to step foot in a Service Canada office.. it is easy peasy

 As others have said it is easy.

Get Record of employment from your employer.

Complete the paperwork online, read every line and understand it,  if you don't call the 1-800 number. Yes every line matters and there are people double checking.

Get a note from your doctor, and then submit it to the office. 

You will not receive payment for at least 28 days after you apply.

Your rate 55% of your average weekly earnings for the past 6 months. 

Make sure you tell Service Canada when you are going back to work if it is not the same date as on the note from your doctor.

CNC