EI, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Financial assistance for apprentices

Registered Alberta apprentices may be eligible for financial assistance when attending the technical training portion of their apprenticeship program.

Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits for Apprentices:
Although every effort is made to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, apprentices should consult www.servicecanada.gc.ca, the official source of information about Employment Insurance.
In order to be considered for EI Benefits while attending technical training, an apprentice must:

• apply for EI benefits at www.servicecanada.gc.ca as soon as he/she has stopped working

NOTE: If you applied for, or are receiving EI benefits prior to training, you are required to complete another application indicating your technical training information.

• have worked enough hours to establish a claim for EI benefits
• not be subject to any conditions that would prevent payment (i.e. quit without just cause, fired for misconduct)

Waiting Period: 
If this is the first time you are applying as an apprentice, you will be required to serve a two-week non-paid waiting period.  The two-week waiting period may be waived on subsequent EI applications while in the same program. 

Applying for Benefits:

NEW:  Apprentices preparing for training can now apply within the 7-day period prior to the last day of work.  Follow these steps to find the on-line Employment Insurance Benefits application form. [Internet access is available at your local Service Canada Centre]

• Click here to access the Application for Employment Insurance Benefits Online
• Frequently Ask Questions
• Regional Call Centre for Employment Insurance and Social Insurance Numbers: 1-800-206-7218

Tips:

• Learn more about Employment Insurance Benefits, the Supplemental Unemployment Benefit, the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG), the Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG), the Tradesperson's Tools Deduction (Canada Revenue Agency) and the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (Canada Revenue Agency)
• If your ordinary residential address is different from the mailing address you will be using while attending technical training, you must include BOTH addresses on your application for benefits.  Enter your temporary address when asked for your mailing address and your ordinary residential address when asked for the residential address.
• Be sure to keep the confirmation number at the end of the application process for your records.
• Sometimes EI benefits are not enough to meet the apprentice's costs while in technical training, OR the apprentice may not have worked sufficient hours to be eligible for EI benefits. In these situations, apprentices may also qualify for grants to help pay for tuition, books, supplies and general living expenses (see Grants for apprentices).

Record of Employment (ROE):

• Submit the original paper copy of your ROE to the Service Canada Representative or designated location at your training centre on your first day of training. OR,
• submit your ROE to the nearest Service Canada Centre (in-person or by mail).

Eligibility for benefits and waiting period may be affected in the following cases:

• If you wish to have time off for personal reasons prior to training, you are viewed as having opted not to work and, therefore, you may not be eligible to collect benefits or serve a waiting period prior to the course. 

The Government of Canada also offers tax measures and grants to assist those involved in apprenticeship training. See Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, Tradesperson's Tools Deduction, Apprenticeship Incentive Grant , and Apprenticeship Completion Grant.

Apprentices can apply for scholarships from a variety of sources including government, post secondary institutions, private industry and service organizations.

Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board Scholarships are available to:

• Registered Apprentices
• High school students in the Registered Apprenticeship Program
• Pre-Apprentices
• Occupational Trainees

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarships for High School Achievement are available to all high school students.

Financial assistance for occupational trainees

Occupational trainees can apply for scholarships from a variety of sources including government, post secondary institutions, private industry and service organizations.

Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board Scholarships are available to trainees in all designated occupations (see Scholarships for occupational trainees).

Occupational trainees who are planning to attend a designated post-secondary school may qualify for a student loan, grant or bursary (see the Alberta Learning Information Systems (ALIS) website at http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/learning/fa/main.asp).

More information

This does not reflect all the awards, scholarships and financial assistance that are available.

For more information:

• visit the Alberta Learning Information Systems (ALIS) website at http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/scholarships/main.asp
• check with the Student Award/Financial Aid office at a training provider that offers technical training for apprentices or training in designated occupations