Summary of Issue: Availability For Work

Decision 40235 Full Text of Decision 40235

Clmt, a prison inmate, alleged that he had not made false statements in declaring on his cards that he was available for work. To receive benefits, a clmt must first qualify and then be available and actively seeking employment. Clmt was well aware that even if he was willing and perhaps physically able to work, he could not take on work at that time.

Decision A-0261.97 Full Text of Decision A-0261.97

Claimant admitted to not having disclosed the fact that he was taking a taxi driver’s course on a full-time basis, because he had a wife and child and needed his unemployment benefits. A penalty was imposed on him for not declaring his non-availability. FCA found that the claimant’s praiseworthy efforts to take retraining and to support his family did not exempt us from the obligation to apply the UI Act.

Decision 25916 Full Text of Decision 25916

Claimant incarcerated on a warrant of committal for failure to pay a fine. It is incumbent to establish that he had the intention to make the false statements. The evidence clearly established that he believed that he was available for work while incarcerated and acted in keeping with that belief.

Decision 11085 Full Text of Decision 11085

Penalty imposed because claimant had wrongly stated that she was available [when spending half of a normal work week in father-in-law's business]. It was not demonstrated that she lacked an honest belief in her availability.