EI Contact information – Individuals

Information on Employment Insurance

Online

You can complete the following tasks online:

By phone

You can submit your EI reports using the Telephone Reporting Service.

Employment Insurance Telephone Information Service

The Employment Insurance Telephone Information Service is an automated telephone service that provides general and more specific information on the EI program. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you call, you can use self-service options to:

  • submit electronic reports
  • get information on benefits, including your specific claim

To get more information or make changes to your claim, you may speak with an EI representative during business hours.

For information about Canada Emergency Response Benefit claims filed with Service Canada, please also contact this telephone service. Please note that the period to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is now closed.

To access information about your claim, you will need your SIN and access code, which you will find on the benefit statement that is mailed to you after you apply for benefits.

Toll-Free: 1-800-206-7218
TTY: 1-800-529-3742

The hours of operation are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, Monday to Friday.

Request a call back

Submit an eServiceCanada request form  to have a Service Canada representative call you back within 2 business days.

Average wait times

Our service standard is to answer your call within 10 minutes. Please see below our average wait times for the week of April 8, 2024.

Definition of average wait time

This is the average length of time that callers wait in queue before speaking to an agent.

Days Average wait time
Monday April 8, 2024 2 minutes
Tuesday April 9, 2024 3 minutes
Wednesday April 10, 2024 3 minutes
Thursday April 11, 2024 19 seconds
Friday April 12, 2024 7 minutes
Average wait time for the week of April 8, 2024 3 minutes

To resolve your enquiry without waiting to speak to a representative, you may use one of our online self-service options or telephone self-service options described above.

Weekly average wait times
Weeks Average wait time
The week of April 1 to 5 12 minutes
The week of March 25 to 29 1 minute
The week of March 18 to 22 6 minutes
The week of March 11 to 15 9 minutes
Monthly average wait times
Months Average wait time
March 2024 5 minutes
February 2024 4 minutes
January 2024 6 minutes
December 2023 5 minutes
November 2023 3 minutes
October 2023 1 minute
September 2023 1 minute
August 2023 6 minutes
July 2023 10 minutes
June 2023 23 seconds
May 2023 16 seconds
April 2023 4 minutes

By mail

You can complete the following tasks by mail:

  • submit your EI claimant reports
  • submit supporting documentation
Mailing addresses for returning reports and sending supporting documents
Province Returning reports Sending supporting documents
Alberta Service Canada
Employment Insurance Program
PO Box 2100
Vancouver BC  V6B 3T4
Service Canada Centre
P.O. Box 245
Edmonton AB  T5J 2J1
British Columbia
Manitoba
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Saskatchewan
Yukon
New Brunswick Service Canada
Employment Insurance Program
PO Box 6080
Moncton NB  E1C 0A7
Service Canada Centre
P.O. Box 8548
St. John's NL  A1B 3P3
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland and Labrador Service Canada
Employment Insurance Program
P.O. Box 8548
St. John's NL  A1B 3P3
Service Canada Centre
P.O. Box 8548
St. John's NL  A1B 3P3
Ontario Service Canada
Employment Insurance Program
PO Box 4500
Belleville ON  K8N 5C1
Service Canada Centre
P.O. Box 2602
Mississauga ON  L4T 0B1
Quebec Service Canada
Employment Insurance Program
PO Box 60
Boucherville QC  J4B 5E6
Service Canada Centre
P.O. Box 60
Boucherville QC  J4B 5E6

In person

You can complete the following tasks at a Service Canada Centre:

  • submit supporting documents
  • accept Proof of Identity documents
  • authenticate appointed representatives and third parties
  • telephone interpretation services
  • obtain a temporary access code

Find a Service Canada office near you

Protecting your information

You now need to show valid ID and answer verification questions at Service Canada Centres to access your file.

To be accepted, your valid ID needs to show your legal name, photo, signature and/or date of birth.

Examples of accepted ID include:

  • One of the following:
    • a passport (Canadian or foreign) or permanent resident card
    • a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
    • a provincial or territorial ID card or drivers license
  • or 2 of the following:
    • a birth certificate (provincial or territorial)
    • a certificate of Canadian citizenship
    • a certificate of registration of birth abroad
    • any other government-issued ID

No ID is required to ask about our programs or services.

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