Information Regarding the Wage Earner Protection Program
WEPP deals with the workers of companies that have declared bankruptcy, or when the company comes under receivership under the BIA. Qualified workers can seek to reclaim unpaid wages, vacation pay, and termination/severance pay.
Max compensation available
The maximum amount is equivalent to four weeks of insurable EI earnings, minus amounts prescribed by regulations.
Making an Application
- your employment has finished;
- your previous employer is subject to a receivership/has filed for bankruptcy;
- you are owed wages, vacation pay, termination or severance pay from the former employer; and
- amounts were earned during the eligibility period or, in the case of termination or severance pay, your employment was terminated during the eligibility period ending on the date of bankruptcy or receivership
Partial Payments Received
Eligibility of WEPP may be available for those that have received partial payment from receiver/trustee.
You may still be able to reclaim unpaid wages, vacation pay, and termination/severance pay only if your payment received doesn’t cover the totality amounts owed (for eligible wages) and is also lower than the prescribed WEPP max amount. For the 2016 year it is $3,907.68
For complete information on WEPP, please see http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/wepp/index.shtml
