Life can become difficult if you are unemployed. As a Canadian citizen you can acquire benefits which will help you in the time you need it most. Until you have found new work, its a good idea to apply for unemployment funds from the government.

Every Canadian citizen with an employment contract will pay a certain amount to an unemployment insurance, known as the EI or UI. This money will go towards a fund set up for those unlucky enough to find themselves out of work. Its a good scheme that is fair to all applicants and the amount that you will receive depends on your past income, the length of time you worked in your previous job and the amount of unemployed in your area of residence.

To begin with you will need to fill out the application form which can be obtained from your local 'Service Canada' office, by calling the EI Center at 1 (866) 783-5567, or if you have internet access, you can apply online at http://www100.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/dem-app/english/home2.html.

Make sure you have a form of identification and your record of employment before you proceed. You might have to get in touch with your previous employer for records of your employment with them. If you have had more than one job in the last eighteen months, you need to contact the employer from each one as you will need to provide details of how long you worked for each and what your income was. If at this stage you have any problems aquiring the information you must contact 'Service Canada' who can give you advice on how to receive proof of your employment and anything else needed to calculate your unemployment rate.

When completing your application form you must provide a detailed account on why you lost your job, whether you left voluntarily or if your post was ended by the employer. It is very important at this stage

to choose the right wording. Put simply, if you were fired because you stole from your employer, or used degrading words towards an employer or colleauge, you are very unlikely to receive any sympathy or any benefits. You have been warned!