How Much EI Will I Get in 2026? Rates and Rules

Quick answer: For most people, Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 (CAD) a week in 2026. You can collect for 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and your region's unemployment rate. EI is a federal program, so the same formula applies in every province and territory.

Key takeaways

The basic EI rate is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, capped at $729 a week because maximum yearly insurable earnings are $68,900 in 2026.
Your benefit is based on your best 14 to 22 weeks of earnings, and the number of best weeks depends on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region.
Regular benefits last from 14 to 45 weeks, and long-tenured workers with claims starting between June 15, 2025, and June 12, 2027, may get 20 extra weeks, up to 65.
Temporary federal measures waive the one-week waiting period and stop severance and other separation pay from being deducted for claims starting up to October 9, 2027.
For claims starting from October 11, 2026, to October 9, 2027, only your most recent reason for leaving a job will be reviewed.

Last updated: October 10, 2026

If you were laid off this fall, the first question is usually how much EI will I get and for how long. The answer depends on three things: what you earned in your best recent weeks, how many insurable hours you worked, and the unemployment rate where you live. This guide walks through the 2026 numbers, worked examples and the temporary federal rules that change what laid-off workers receive.

The timing matters. Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported on October 9, 2026, that employment fell by 68,000 in September, the second monthly drop in a row, and the national unemployment rate rose to 6.5%. The job-finding rate for people who were unemployed in August was 30.6%, below its 2017 to 2019 average of 36.5%.

How much EI will I get per week in 2026?

Most claimants receive 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 (CAD) a week. Employment Insurance is a Government of Canada program, so this rate is the same whether you live in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia or Yukon.

The cap comes from the maximum yearly insurable earnings, which is $68,900 as of January 1, 2026. Earnings above that level do not raise your benefit. Insurable earnings cover most pay from a job, including wages, tips, bonuses and commissions, and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) decides which types of pay count.

Once your weekly rate is set, it stays the same for the whole claim. EI payments are taxable, and federal plus provincial or territorial tax is deducted from each payment where applicable, so the amount that lands in your account will be lower than the gross rate.

How is my EI weekly benefit calculated?

The government adds up your earnings in your highest-paid weeks, divides by a set number of "best weeks", then multiplies by 55%. The steps look like this:

Find your total insurable earnings for your best weeks, using your record of employment (ROE) and the information you give.
Set the divisor: 14 best weeks in regions with the highest unemployment, 22 in regions with the lowest, and a number in between elsewhere.
Divide your best-weeks total by that divisor to get your average weekly insurable earnings.
Multiply by 55% to get your weekly benefit, up to the $729 maximum.

Worked examples

Average of $800 a week: 55% of $800 is $440 a week before tax.
Average of $1,200 a week: 55% of $1,200 is $660 a week before tax.
Average of $1,500 a week: 55% would be $825, but the 2026 cap applies, so the benefit is $729 a week.

These figures are illustrations of the federal formula, not a guarantee. The government says it cannot confirm your exact amount until your application is processed, and it offers an EI Benefits Estimator on canada.ca for a personal estimate.

How many weeks of EI can I get?

Regular benefits run from 14 weeks to a maximum of 45 weeks. The length depends on your insurable hours in the qualifying period and the unemployment rate in your EI economic region when you file.

A few points from the federal schedule show how wide the range is:

With 700 to 734 hours in a region where unemployment is 6% or less, you get 14 weeks.
With 1,820 hours or more in that same low-unemployment region, you get 36 weeks.
With 1,820 hours or more in a region where unemployment is 10.1% or higher, you reach the 45-week maximum.

Your number of weeks does not change if you move to a different region after your benefit period starts. Seasonal workers may qualify for extra weeks, up to the 45-week ceiling.

Extra weeks for long-tenured workers

Under a temporary federal measure, long-tenured workers may receive 20 additional weeks of regular benefits, up to 65 weeks in total, if their claim starts between June 15, 2025, and June 12, 2027. To count as long-tenured, you need under 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits over the 3 years before your claim, plus EI premiums of at least 30% of the annual maximum in at least 7 of the 10 years before your claim year. You must also have collected at least 1 week of regular benefits. These weeks are added to your claim automatically.

Do I qualify for EI regular benefits?

You generally qualify if you lost insurable employment through no fault of your own and worked between 420 and 700 insurable hours in your qualifying period. The exact hours depend on your regional unemployment rate: 700 hours where it is 6% or less, and 420 hours where it is above 13%.

You also need to show that you:

have been without work and pay for at least 7 days in a row in the last 52 weeks;
are ready, willing and able to work each day;
are actively looking for work and keep a written record of employers you contact, for example through Job Bank;
complete your EI reports every 2 weeks online or by phone.

The qualifying period is normally the 52 weeks before your claim starts, or the time since your last claim began, whichever is shorter. You are usually not eligible if you quit without just cause, were dismissed for misconduct, or are out of work because you are directly taking part in a strike, lockout or other labour dispute.

What are the temporary EI measures until October 2027?

The Government of Canada has temporary EI measures in place to respond to major changes in economic conditions, and several of them now run until October 9, 2027. They apply nationally, not province by province.

No waiting week: the usual one-week unpaid waiting period is waived for new claims starting between March 30, 2025, and October 9, 2027. You may still choose to serve it if a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit top-up makes that better for you.
Severance not deducted: for claims or allocations starting between March 30, 2025, and October 9, 2027, separation earnings such as vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, closure bonuses and sick leave credits are not deducted from benefits.
Only the last job separation reviewed: for claims that begin from October 11, 2026, through October 9, 2027, the government looks only at why your latest job ended. When that final job ended through no fault of yours, every insurable hour from the qualifying period counts toward the claim, including hours from an earlier job you left without just cause.
Up to 65 weeks: the long-tenured worker measure described above.

For employers, special Work-Sharing Program measures are in place from March 7, 2025, to March 31, 2028 to give affected businesses extra support during an economic downturn.

Can low-income families get more than 55%?

Yes. If your net family income is $25,921 a year or less, there are children in your household, and the Canada Child Benefit is paid to you or your spouse, the EI Family Supplement can raise your rate up to 80% of your average insurable earnings. The supplement shrinks as income rises and stops at the $25,921 threshold. Only one spouse can receive it at a time, and it is usually better for the spouse with the lower benefit rate to claim it.

Common mistakes that cost claimants money

Delays and missed reports can cost you benefits. Avoid these errors:

Waiting to apply. The government advises submitting an application as soon as you stop working.
Skipping bi-weekly reports. Missing reports can mean losing benefits.
Not keeping a job-search log. You must be able to show which employers you contacted and when.
Forgetting about tax. EI is taxable income, so budget for the after-tax amount.
Assuming severance blocks your claim. Under the temporary measures, separation pay is not deducted for claims starting up to October 9, 2027.

What this means for you

If you earned about $68,900 or more over a full year and live in a region where unemployment is 6% or less, expect up to $729 a week before tax for 14 to 36 weeks, depending on your hours, and long-tenured workers may get up to 20 more. If you earned less, your benefit is roughly 55% of your average weekly pay. With employment falling for a second month in September and the new separation rule starting October 11, 2026, it pays to file quickly, keep your reports up to date and check your region's rate on canada.ca.

Related reading on Jobsiz: Severance Pay Ontario 2026: Rules, Formula and EI, Canada Unemployment Rate September 2026: 6.5%, Jobs Fall and EI Premium Rate 2027: New Rate and Maximums Explained.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum EI payment per week in 2026?

The maximum EI regular benefit is $729 a week in 2026. It is based on maximum yearly insurable earnings of $68,900, and the amount is before federal and provincial or territorial tax.

How much EI will I get if I made $1,000 a week?

If your average insurable weekly earnings in your best weeks were $1,000, your benefit would be about $550 a week before tax, which is 55% of $1,000. The exact amount is confirmed only after your claim is processed.

How long does EI last in Canada?

EI regular benefits last from 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your insurable hours and your regional unemployment rate. Long-tenured workers with claims starting between June 15, 2025, and June 12, 2027, may get 20 more weeks, up to 65 in total.

Is there still a one-week EI waiting period?

Not for most new claims right now. The waiting period is waived for new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025, and October 9, 2027, under a temporary federal measure.

Will my severance pay reduce my EI?

Not under the current temporary rules. For claims or allocations starting between March 30, 2025, and October 9, 2027, separation earnings such as severance, vacation pay and pay in lieu of notice are not deducted from EI benefits.

Is EI different in Ontario, Alberta or BC?

No, EI is a federal program and the 55% rate and $729 cap apply across Canada. What changes by location is your EI economic region's unemployment rate, which affects the hours you need, your best-weeks divisor and how many weeks you can collect.

Is EI taxable?

Yes. All EI benefits are taxable, and federal plus provincial or territorial taxes are deducted from your payments where applicable.

Sources

This article was compiled by Jobsiz from the sources listed above, with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. Published October 10, 2026. We update stories when new verified information becomes available.

How Much EI Will I Get in 2026? Rates, Weeks and New Rules