EI benefits being denied to some college, university students

Changes to a program that allows Island students to continue to receive employment insurance benefits while attending university and college have left some students out in the cold.

The Career Connect Program has been operating for the past four years.

But some students had to reapply in October. Their cheques stopped if they didn't.

Will Ross, a third-year psychology student at UPEI, said he was shocked when he was told by Service Canada that he was not eligible for EI benefits. 

Ross worked at a Cavendish golf course this summer to earn enough hours to qualify for employment insurance to help offset the costs of attending UPEI.  He started to receive payments in September.

But that changed in October. 

"I just applied for EI in October and have been waiting ever since," said the 20-year-old Stratford resident.

"I made numerous phone calls to Service Canada, just asking for an update on my situation and I was told every time that everything was fine.There was nothing missing. They were aware that I was a student."

He said that changed within the past week. "I received a call from them saying that I'm not eligible to receive regular benefits because I'm a student attending university."   

Ross is not alone.

He said he's part of a social media group of more than 50 students who have had their EI claims rejected. 

Career Connect is administered by the provincial and federal governments through Skills P.E.I. and Service Canada.

In a statement to CBC News, the Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture, which is responsible for Skills P.E.I., said it is working with Service Canada on files that are pending to confirm all of the information has been submitted. 

"In October, we noticed challenges that we have not seen in other years," the statement went on to say.