EI Denied? Reconsideration Within 30 Days

First, read the decision closely

A refusal is a decision on a specific question, not a judgment on you. The letter (or the call that came before it) says what was decided and why. The most common reasons are:

• Not enough insurable hours for your region in the qualifying period (between 420 and 700 hours for regular benefits in 2026, depending on the regional unemployment rate; check yours on the regions page).
• The reason your job ended: Service Canada decided you quit without just cause or lost the job because of misconduct.
• Availability: you weren't shown to be ready, willing and capable of working each day, for example because of school, travel or limits on the work you'd accept.
• A late application or report, or information Service Canada asked for and didn't get.
• An overpayment or money that was deducted from your benefits.

Note the date the decision was communicated to you. That starts your 30 days. In My Service Canada Account you can also read why you aren't eligible and print most letters. Our guide to disentitlement and disqualification explains what the two main kinds of refusal mean.

One recent change can matter for refusals over why you left a job. Under Pilot Project No. 25, for claims starting October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027, only your most recent job separation is reviewed. The measure is temporary and only covers claims starting in that window.

Before you file: try new information

If the refusal happened because something was missing or wrong, the fastest fix may not be a reconsideration at all. Canada.ca says you can send Service Canada new information first, and officers will check whether it changes the decision. Typical examples are a corrected or late ROE, a medical note that explains why you couldn't work or apply, or emails showing your employer cut your hours before you quit.

Don't let this eat your deadline, though. If you're close to day 30 and haven't heard back, file the reconsideration request anyway and attach the same documents.

How to request a reconsideration

A reconsideration is Service Canada taking a second look at its own decision. It costs nothing, and it has to come first: you can't go straight to an appeal.

• Deadline: within 30 days after the date the decision was communicated to you.
• How: fill in, print and sign the Request for reconsideration of an Employment Insurance (EI) decision (form INS5210). Submit it in person at a Service Canada Centre or by mail.
• What to include: which decision you disagree with, why, and the evidence. Stick to facts and dates. If you quit, explain the situation and what you tried before leaving. If the issue is availability, show your job search and what you were doing each day.
• Someone helping you? If you want Service Canada to discuss your file with a friend, family member or advocate, you also complete form INS3124 (consent to disclosure) and submit it in person or by mail.

Late? You can still ask after 30 days. Explain why you're late; Service Canada may accept the request if it finds the reason reasonable. A long, unexplained delay is much harder to excuse, so send it as soon as you can.

Example: Leila's claim is refused in a call and letter on Monday, November 9, 2026. Thirty days later is Wednesday, December 9, 2026. She gathers her employer emails over the weekend and drops off a signed INS5210 at her Service Canada Centre on Monday, November 16, with weeks to spare.

What happens during and after the review

A different officer from the one who made the first decision reviews your file. They may contact you and other people involved, such as your former employer, and gather documents. Canada.ca says the review is done as quickly as possible but the time depends on how complicated the case is.

You get the result in writing. If it goes your way, your claim is adjusted and any benefits owed to you are paid. If it doesn't, an officer calls you to explain the decision and your right to appeal, and a copy of the information used is sent separately. Keep it: you'll need it for an appeal.

While you wait, keep filing your biweekly reports if you still have an active claim. A report you skip now can create a second problem later. See after you apply: reports and your access code.

Appealing to the EI Board of Appeal

The appeal system changed in 2026. As canada.ca puts it, as of April 1, 2026, the Employment Insurance Board of Appeal (EI BOA) has replaced the Social Security Tribunal (SST) General Division for appeals of EI reconsideration decisions. Older articles and forums that send you to the SST General Division are out of date for new appeals.

• What you can appeal: the reconsideration decision, including a decision about whether to accept a late reconsideration request.
• Deadline: within 30 days of receiving the reconsideration decision.
• Late appeals: under the Department of Employment and Social Development Act, the Board can allow more time, but never more than one year after the decision was communicated to you.
• Who decides: the Board is an independent tribunal. Appeals are heard by three-member panels representing government, employers and workers.

The canada.ca reconsideration page links to the Board's own site for how to file, prepare for a hearing and what to expect. If you disagree with the Board's decision, there is a further level of appeal at the Social Security Tribunal's Appeal Division, also with a 30-day deadline from the day you receive the Board's decision. Check the Board's and the Tribunal's instructions for your case before you file.

Every claim is decided by Service Canada, not by MyEI. MyEI is an independent information and estimate tool, is not affiliated with Service Canada or the Government of Canada, and this page is not legal advice. For your own file, call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 or start from canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html. A legal clinic or community advocate can help with a hearing.