ROE Decoder
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Decode the Record of Employment (ROE) — the form that gates EI: what reason codes A (shortage of work), E (quit), M (dismissal) and the rest mean for eligibility, which boxes compute your benefit rate, and how to fight a wrong code.
Quick answer: The ROE’s Block 16 reason code decides EI eligibility: A (shortage of work/layoff) = clean approval; E (quit) and M (dismissal) trigger fault investigations — with just-cause-for-quitting and misconduct tests. Blocks 15B/C (insurable earnings) set your 55% benefit rate. Employers must file within 5 calendar days.
The Codes and Their Consequences
| Code | Meaning | EI outcome |
|---|---|---|
| A | Shortage of work / end of contract / layoff | Clean regular-benefit eligibility |
| D | Illness/injury | Sickness benefits (26 weeks) |
| E | Quit | Disqualified from regular EI UNLESS "just cause" (harassment, unsafe work, major unilateral changes, following a spouse...) — Service Canada investigates |
| F | Maternity | Maternity/parental stream |
| G | Retirement | Case-specific |
| M | Dismissal | Disqualified only for MISCONDUCT — ordinary performance/fit dismissals still qualify; Service Canada asks both sides |
| N | Leave of absence | Stream-dependent |
| K | Other (explained in 18) | Reviewed manually |
The Money Boxes
15B/15C (insurable earnings by pay period) drive your best-weeks average → 55% to the ~$729 cap; Block 17 (vacation/severance paid at separation) ALLOCATES forward — lump sums delay benefit start rather than reduce it. Wrong earnings = wrong rate; wrong allocation = wrong start date.
Worked Scenarios
Code M, performance dismissal: you likely still qualify — misconduct means wilful (theft, insubordination), not "wasn’t good at the job"; answer Service Canada’s questionnaire plainly. Code E after your hours were slashed: argue just cause (significant unilateral change) with the paper trail. Severance in Block 17: 8 weeks’ severance = benefits start ~8 weeks later — apply IMMEDIATELY anyway; the claim anchors to the application date.
Fixing a Wrong ROE
Employers must issue within 5 calendar days (electronic) — chase missing ones via Service Canada, which can compel. Disputed codes: apply for EI regardless, state your version, provide evidence; Service Canada adjudicates the code, not the employer’s label — and wrongly coded "E"s succeed on appeal regularly (Social Security Tribunal route). An employer threatening a bad code to force a resignation letter is handing you constructive-dismissal evidence — see the notice estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does each ROE code mean for EI?
A (layoff/shortage) = clean eligibility; E (quit) and M (dismissal) trigger investigations — quits need just cause, dismissals disqualify only for wilful misconduct.
Can I get EI if I was fired?
Usually yes — performance and fit dismissals qualify; only proven misconduct (deliberate, wilful) disqualifies, and Service Canada decides, not the employer’s label.
Can I get EI if I quit?
With just cause — harassment, unsafe conditions, major unilateral pay/hours changes, relocation with a spouse — documented; otherwise regular benefits disqualify.
What does Block 17 severance do?
Separation money allocates forward, delaying benefit start rather than reducing entitlement — apply immediately regardless to anchor the claim.
What if my employer won’t issue the ROE?
The 5-day electronic deadline is enforceable — Service Canada can compel issuance and process your claim on interim evidence; file anyway.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026