Jack’s application for unemployment benefits was accepted. When he receives the first cheque he is told to come and sign the unemployment register every 4 weeks. He does this every month but misses one month. He is not paid for the time he did not sign the register. Is he entitled to get benefits for the time he did not sign the register?

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

The law says that anyone who has applied for unemployment benefits must sign the register every 4 weeks to show that they are still unemployed and looking for work. But if the employee can show that they were not able to sign for a good reason, for example because of being ill, and if the employee was unemployed during that period and available for work, then they should be paid for the period not signed. If the employee was not able to sign because of being ill, they will have to produce a doctor’s letter. If the employee did not sign because they were away looking for work, this might not be accepted as a good enough reason not to sign. The employee will have to re-register for UIF benefits and start all over again. (See Unemployment Insurance Fund)

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You can write a letter of appeal to the Department of Employment and Labour office in your area. If no money was paid out at all because the person did not sign the register more than once, you can send a letter to the regional appeals committee at the provincial office of the Department of Employment and Labour, asking them to investigate why no benefits were paid at all, and to pay out the money owing to the applicant. (See UIF appeals; See Model letter of appeal against the refusal to pay UIF; See Resources for addresses; See Model letter to UIF because benefits have not been paid)