So... Whats for lunch?

Lise · Jan 12 07 02:39

Case is dependent from person to person. There's no one true formula. You have to work it out with EI.

Those who are self-employed do not get maternity leave. So sad but I think they should at least get something. My dentists didn't get anything and she had to come back within 3 months or so.

The Universal Child Benefit is not too bad. It's nowhere enough but it's a start.

Sportsdude · Jan 12 07 02:43

Not trying to sound dumb here but whats EI? Maternity leave? me confused?

Lise · Jan 12 07 02:45

EI is Employment Insurance. I just equate it to mat leave because that's what they call it when they send me a cheque.

Ally · Jan 12 07 02:47

I'm self employed but my hubby and I do some fancy accounting. Tax splitting etc etc so it looks like I do some work for him, though I don't. I got my mat leave and parental leave based on that.

Sort of complicated.

Sportsdude · Jan 12 07 02:49

Employment Insurance now thats through your company you work for right?
I don't have or won't have insurance soon because state farm says I'm not a student anymore which I think is ridiculous.

Lise · Jan 12 07 02:50

Yep, I've heard that it can be done. As long as you show that you're 'working' under someone, you can usually receive EI. Someone I know has done that. She owns the business but made him the business manager before she gave birth so he can write down that she works for him.

purelife · Jan 12 07 02:50

Lise wrote:
EI is Employment Insurance. I just equate it to mat leave because that's what they call it when they send me a cheque.

How long will you get paid for, Lise?

Ally · Jan 12 07 02:51

EI is through the Federal Government.

Lise · Jan 12 07 02:51

Sportsdude wrote:
Employment Insurance now thats through your company you work for right?
I don't have or won't have insurance soon because state farm says I'm not a student anymore which I think is ridiculous.

No. Straight from the government. My employer just hands them a form stating that I was working for them for X number of hours and so forth.

I'm sure you'll get insurance once you start working, SD.

Lise · Jan 12 07 02:52

EI is for one year. Cut off by October 2007 - that's when I go back to work.

Sportsdude · Jan 12 07 02:54

Ah government pays you? That doesn't happen here.
Nope I'll have no insurance at all and I do work. But its under an 'independent contractor' clause so the company does support you at all even if I get hit by a drunk on the road its oops your fault and not ours. We get treated like slaves.

Lise · Jan 12 07 03:00

Uhm. I think that's the same here unless you belong to a union and you get hurt while working in the company or factory.

We don't have the same coverage but I pay for dental-related insurance coverage just to cover my own ass because you never know.

purelife · Jan 12 07 03:06

Lise wrote:
EI is for one year. Cut off by October 2007 - that's when I go back to work.

[/DIV]
Sorry, gotta understand this. So, you got paid EI for one year up to a max of $1,600 at max income of $35K. If you make more than $35K, then you still get $1,600 a month for one year.

But what's the maternal leave for 12 weeks thingee that Ally posted?

Ally · Jan 12 07 03:06

Sportsdude, you live in the US?

I'm a vancouverite but living in Seattle temporarily. It's really interesting seeing the differences in the systems.

I think there are pro's and con's to both. I agree with the co-pay that many of the insurance companies have. For instance if I want to go see a doctor I have to pay $15 and if I go to the emergency dept. I have to pay $50. I only go if I absolutely need to. People down here don't go the doctor because they have a sniffle.

On the other hand I think that Canada's system has more control over who sees specialists. In Canada lets say you are having recurrent headaches. You go to see your GP who advises you to get your eyes checked and tries out a few things that likely will work. They refer you to a neurologist when it's necessary. In the US, if you have insurance, you can go see a neurologist tomorrow if you want even if it's not necessary. In Canada specialists see people who are truly in need whereas in the US specialist physicians are left weeding out the hypochondriacs.

Ally · Jan 12 07 03:08

Same thing purelife.

Most women consider themselves on mat leave for 1 year. It's actually 50 weeks but close enough. If you actually break that time down though it's 15 weeks of maternity leave and 35 weeks of parental leave. Adds up to 50 weeks.