New Ontario mother discovers she doesn't qualify for parental leave benefits
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic hairstylist Kaitlin Ward has had to overcome adversity.
With her work closing due to provincially mandated shutdowns earlier this year, the new mom is now learning she doesn’t qualify for parental leave benefits and will have to return to work much sooner than expected.
“It’s heartbreaking – it just feels super unfortunate that I have no option now and I’m being pressured to go back,” said Ward, who welcomed her first daughter Gordie-Rose in August and is now preparing to return to work in December.
The Keswick, Ont. hairstylist had relied on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and employment benefits programs to supplement her income while the salon she worked at was closed.
She returned to work briefly in the spring, only to find herself out of work again amid another provincial shutdown. Ward did not return in July when personal-care services reopened because it was too close to her due date.
When applying for parental leave, Ward said government officials told her she didn’t qualify for parental leave benefits which are earned with a minimum of 600 hours worked the year prior.
“I feel robbed from something that I’ve contributed to and kind of earned,” said Ward. “It’s crazy to think I’m entitled to only three-and-a half months with my daughter.”
In the wake of the pandemic, the federal government temporarily changed the requirement to 120 insurable hours, providing a credit of 480 insured hours to help new and expecting mothers meet the required 600 insured hours of work.
Ward found out that credit was applied to her first EI claim in December 2020, which she says was never explained to her.
“That credit was given to me in December unneeded – so then now when I go to apply again I will need the full 600 hours, which I will never qualify for this year because I only worked six weeks.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion told CTV News Toronto “to be eligible for EI maternity and parental benefits, a person normally needs at least 600 hours of insurable employment in the 52 weeks prior to the start of their benefits or since their last EI claim, whichever is shorter.”
Government officials also say “to be eligible for additional EI benefits, a claimant must have accumulated the required number of hours to establish a new benefit period.”
Starting on September 26, 2021, the number of hours of insurable employment to qualify for benefits will be 420 hours.
However, Ward will still not qualify under those conditions.
“It’s about finding the balance fighting for what’s right…and enjoying what time I have with my daughter."
Now, she’s trying to make the best of the limited time she has with daughter before returning to work.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca