Help for individuals affected by hazardous weather and natural disasters

On this page

• Apply for Employment Insurance
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
• Student loan and apprentice loan borrowers
• New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects Call for Proposals
• Work-Sharing
• Passport services
• Contact us

Apply for Employment Insurance

If you can’t work due to hazardous weather or a natural disaster, apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits as soon as possible, even if your employer hasn’t issued you a record of employment (ROE).

You need your Social Insurance Number (SIN) to apply for EI benefits. If you don’t know your SIN, or don’t have one, you can find your SIN or apply for one.

To process your application, we need your mailing and residential addresses.

• Provide a mailing address where you can receive mail (you can update this address later, if required). For example, the address of a:
  • friend
  • family member
  • temporary shelter
• Provide your usual residential address, even if you’re temporarily living somewhere else

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

If you’re taking part in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and you are or may have been impacted by hazardous weather, you must continue to meet your obligations under the TFWP.  

You must also: 

• follow the local evacuation procedures (for example, know evacuation sites, maintain a contact plan with the temporary foreign workers [TFWs], be ready for an evacuation as per provincial or territorial guidelines) 
• contact your regional processing centre by email to report any unreachable TFWs   

If your business cannot operate and you need to lay off TFWs, you must issue an ROE to allow the TFWs to apply for EI benefits. To get help:

• ensure that you continue to meet your obligations under the TFWP 
• if you believe you haven’t been meeting your obligations under the TFWP, use voluntary disclosure to let us know 
• visit How to complete the record of employment form 
• contact the Employer Contact Centre 

Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security

The delivery of pension cheques by mail may be impacted by hazardous weather or natural disasters.

To ensure timely delivery of benefits, we recommend signing up for direct deposit.

If you prefer to receive your OAS or CPP payment by cheque, you can change your address to ensure you receive cheques during hazardous weather or natural disasters.

To sign up or make a change, clients can:

• contact Old Age Security (OAS)
• contact Canada Pension Plan (CPP), or
• visit eServiceCanada to schedule a call back within 2 business days

Those who still receive cheques are encouraged to visit Canada Post for updates and alternate delivery arrangements or pick-up locations.

For more information, please contact us.

Student loan and apprentice loan borrowers

Students affected by hazardous weather or a natural disaster who need help making loan payments can fast track their application for the Repayment Assistance Plan.

For more information, contact:

• National Student Loans Service Centre, or
• Canada Apprentice Loan Service Centre

New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects Call for Proposals

If you are applying to the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Community-based Call for Proposals (CFP) and you are or may have been impacted by the wildfires, please contact your regional NHSP office to request an accommodation.

Work-Sharing

Work-Sharing Special Measures to support businesses affected by the 2023 wildfires occurring in multiple regions across Canada are effective June 25, 2023, to November 4, 2023.

Employers experiencing a decline in business activity attributable to the 2023 wildfires in Canada can be eligible for Work-Sharing Wildfire Special Measures if they:

• are located in the affected areas, and/or
• have major customers and/or major suppliers located in the affected areas

Further details regarding the special measures posted on the Work-Sharing overview page under the Special measures section. Please check the website regularly for updates.

Passport services

If you’ve been affected by hazardous weather or a natural disaster, and you’ve applied to receive a new passport by mail, contact the passport program if you need it urgently.

Learn more about Canada Post service interruptions.

Contact us

If you require further support or help to access service, submit an eServiceCanada request. This is available online and on mobile phones.

Clients can also call the Service Canada Outreach Support Centre to receive assistance from a Service Canada representative.

Service Canada Outreach Support Centre

Contact the Service Canada Outreach Support Centre toll-free at 1-877-631-2657.