EI ran out early

Hey everyone,

So, I was trying to file my EI report today, and I got a message that said:

"We cannot accept your report because our records show that you do not have an active claim for benefits. For info about applying for benefits, go to canada.ca."

I work on contract-based jobs, bouncing from one gig to the next. When I checked my current EI claim on the Government of Canada website, it said my last day of claims was March 1st.

For 2024, I worked from February to September (I had to go abroad for a month because of a family issue but still got EI from November 2024).

So, my question is: Does EI only cover the hours I worked in 2024?

Quick background: I live in Vancouver and have been working since I graduated in 2012. With all the contract work, I’m generally always moving from one contract to another without unemployment gaps in the middle, so I’ve rarely had to use EI. I used it for 2 months in 2020 and 1 month in 2022. It feels a bit weird since I thought EI would last a year. I've seen people take almost full year off on EI, so now I’m wondering if EI only lasts for 19 weeks or if I missed something.

anyone have any insights on how this works for contract workers?

Thanks in advance! 🙏

I'm trying to get the ROE of my last employer to check the days (cant seem to download the file from the Service Canada website. will have to ask my employer). But based on coworkers and others in a similar line of work. I was expecting more than the 19 weeks I got.