Employment Insurance (EI)
Employment Insurance replaces part of your pay when you lose your job — how much you get, how long it lasts, the premium coming off every cheque, and how to claim it without losing weeks.
Last updated: July 2026 · Service Canada · Canada Revenue Agency · 2026 rates
What is Employment Insurance?
Employment Insurance is the federal program that pays you a temporary income if you lose your job through no fault of your own. You pay into it automatically — a premium comes off every paycheque at 1.63% of your earnings up to a yearly ceiling, and your employer pays 1.4 times that on top. In return, if you are laid off you can claim regular benefits worth 55% of your average weekly earnings, up to a cap of $729 a week in 2026. The same premium also funds maternity, parental, sickness and caregiving benefits, though this section focuses on the regular benefits a laid-off worker claims.
Two things surprise people. The first is the cap: because benefits are calculated on maximum insurable earnings of $68,900, anyone earning more than about $68,900 a year receives the same $729 a week — EI is not designed to replace a high salary. The second is that how long you can claim, anywhere from 14 to 45 weeks, depends not just on your hours but on the unemployment rate where you live: the same work history pays for more weeks in a region where jobs are scarce. Quebec residents pay a lower premium, 1.30%, because the province runs its own parental insurance plan.
EI 2026 Key Rates
| Item | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Benefit rate | 55% of earnings |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $729 |
| Maximum insurable earnings (MIE) | $68,900 |
| Length of benefits | 14 to 45 weeks |
| Employee premium rate | 1.63% |
| Maximum employee premium | $1,123.07 |
| Quebec premium rate | 1.30% |
| Waiting period | 1 unpaid week |
| Hours needed to qualify | 420 to 700 |
Premium rates and the maximum insurable earnings are set by the Canada Revenue Agency and change every January. The weekly benefit maximum follows from the MIE: 55% of $68,900 over 52 weeks is $729. Quebec residents pay the reduced 1.30% rate because Quebec’s own plan covers parental benefits; their maximum premium is $895.70.
What You’ll Find in This Section
- EI Benefits Calculator: enter your earnings, hours and region to estimate your weekly benefit and how many weeks you could receive
- EI Premium Rates Table: the 2026 premium rate and maximum, the reduced Quebec rate, and how the deduction on your pay is worked out
- How to Apply: the four-week deadline that costs people benefits, what you need before you start, and the record of employment
- Complete guide: how the 55% is calculated, why weeks vary by region, the waiting period, and what disqualifies a claim
Also in Canada:
- Net Pay Calculator — your salary after tax, CPP and EI, in any province
- Canada Pension Plan — the retirement pension you build on the same paycheque
- Old Age Security — the residence-based pension for age 65 and over
📋 Rates verified — Official sources: Service Canada — EI regular benefits: how much you could receive · CRA — EI premium rates and maximums
⚠️ This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. KnowMyGovt is an independent service with no affiliation with or endorsement by Service Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency or the Government of Canada, and is not responsible for decisions you make based on it.
