Korean Job Discussion Forums

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

So reading the other tax thread got me thinking. What if you are collecting unemployment insurance..say $1600 a month, and then you leave for Korea? Theoretically you could just keep collecting that unemployment until it runs out in 18 months, while working in Korea right?

Zaria32 · Joined: 04 Dec 2007

De4pends on whether you are willing to commit fraud or not...

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

I was on EI when I first came to Korea (laid off and bouncing around from one transitional job to another but not making as much as I was, therefore the need for EI assistance).

Got offered a job in Korea so I quit the transitional job I was working (automatic disqualification for EI). Reported to EI on my bi-weekly work report but could not complete the automated telephone report because I quit.

I called a rep and completed the report. EI then sent me a check Shocked

Got a letter from HRDC a few weeks after I left informing me I had received benefits I wasn't entitled to and must repay immediately.

I countered with a repayment schedule and it was accepted. Over the next 5 months I repaid the $1000 or so they had paid out when they should not have done so.

Cheers

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ya, but the op was talking about $1600 for 18 more months or about $29,000 of willfully filling in fraudulent claims.

A far cry from a simple one time overpayment of $1000.

.

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

I see.

When I was on EI before coming to Korea, the phone reporting system was sort of hit and miss. As I stated I contacted a live person to file my final report and gave the correct information. They screwed up and sent me benefits checks, which of couse I cashed because afterall, they are representing the government and they wouldn't send me money if I didn't deserve it Rolling Eyes

To continue to collect EI for 18 months while outside of Canada...you'd have to be feeding them false information. While HRDC and the government of Canada can be incompetent at times, they will not remain that way indefinitely.

Best to set things straight quickly or you may, as ttompatz has pointed out, become a guest of Canada Corrections shortly after your return.

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

I'm a US Citizen.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea