Employment Insurance (EI) in Canada 2026: eligibility, hours, amounts and how to apply
Who qualifies for EI, how many hours you need in your region, the weekly maximum, the waived waiting period until 10 October 2026, maternity and parental benefits, and Quebec's alternative.
Employment Insurance (EI) pays you 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026. To qualify, you usually need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment in the last 52 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region, and you must have lost your job through no fault of your own. Benefits are paid for 14 to 45 weeks. One point is time-sensitive: the unpaid waiting week is waived for every new claim that starts on or before 10 October 2026, so if you have recently lost your job, do not delay your application.
Who is eligible for Employment Insurance in Canada?
EI regular benefits are for people who have lost their job and are able to work and looking for work. The federal government requires that you:
- worked in insurable employment, meaning a job from which EI premiums were deducted;
- lost your job through no fault of your own: a layoff, a shortage of work, or the end of a contract or season;
- have been without work and without pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks;
- have accumulated the number of hours required in your region during your qualifying period;
- are ready, willing and capable of working each day, are actively looking for work, and keep a record of the employers you contact.
Who does not qualify: people who quit without just cause, people dismissed for misconduct, and people who stopped working because of a labour dispute such as a strike. Farmers, fishers, teachers, apprentices, self-employed people and members of the military have special rules.
The qualifying period is usually the shorter of two periods: the 52 weeks before your claim starts, or the time since the start of your last claim if that falls within those 52 weeks.
How many hours do you need? Hours by regional unemployment rate
The required number of hours is set out in section 7 of the Employment Insurance Act and depends on the unemployment rate in the economic region where you live. The higher unemployment is in your region, the fewer hours you need:
| Unemployment rate in your region | Insurable hours required |
|---|---|
| 6% or less | 700 |
| More than 6% up to 7% | 665 |
| More than 7% up to 8% | 630 |
| More than 8% up to 9% | 595 |
| More than 9% up to 10% | 560 |
| More than 10% up to 11% | 525 |
| More than 11% up to 12% | 490 |
| More than 12% up to 13% | 455 |
| More than 13% | 420 |
To put that in perspective: 700 hours is about 17 and a half weeks of full-time work at 40 hours a week, and 420 hours is 10 and a half weeks. Regional unemployment rates are updated regularly, so the figure that applies to you is the one in effect when your claim starts.
How much does EI pay in 2026? The rate and the weekly maximum
| Item | 2026 value |
|---|---|
| Regular benefit rate | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings |
| Maximum annual insurable earnings | $68,900 (since 1 January 2026) |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $729 |
| Length of benefits | 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and your region's unemployment rate |
| Family supplement | Can raise the rate to as much as 80% for families with children and a net family income of $25,921 or less |
An example: if your average insurable weekly earnings are $1,000, your benefit is 55% of that, or $550 a week before tax. If you earn a high salary, your benefit will not exceed $729 however much you made. Once it is set, your weekly benefit amount stays the same for the whole claim.
To estimate the gap between your current pay and your benefit, work out your take-home pay with the salary calculator, then enter the benefit amount in the budget calculator to see how many months you can hold out.
The waiting period and temporary measures until 10 October 2026
The permanent rule is that every new claim has one unpaid waiting week before benefits start. However, the federal government introduced temporary measures in response to the impact of tariffs, then extended them on 20 March 2026. These are the measures in effect on the date we checked:
| Temporary measure | Applies to claims starting | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting week waived | From 30 March 2025 to 10 October 2026 | You are paid benefits for the first week |
| Separation monies not deducted | From 30 March 2025 to 10 October 2026 | Severance and other separation payments are not deducted from your benefits |
| 20 extra weeks for long-tenured workers | From 15 June 2025 to 10 October 2026 | Up to 65 weeks of regular benefits for those who meet the conditions |
As of the date we checked, the official page for these measures mentions no extension beyond 10 October 2026. In practical terms: if you lose your job now, applying before that date could get you a whole extra week of benefits. The temporary flexibility in the Work-Sharing program continues until 31 March 2027; that program is for employers who reduce their employees' hours instead of laying them off.
How to apply for Employment Insurance, step by step
- Apply within 4 weeks of your last day of work. Applying later could cost you part of your benefits.
- Have your information ready: your Social Insurance Number (SIN), your mother's or father's family name at birth, your home and mailing addresses with postal codes, and your bank details for direct deposit (bank name, branch number and account number).
- List your work history for the last 52 weeks: the names and addresses of your employers, the dates you worked, and why you left each job.
- Record of Employment (ROE): Service Canada needs an ROE from each employer to determine your eligibility.
- Complete the application online: it takes about an hour, and you have 72 hours to submit it before the saved information is deleted.
- Submit your report every two weeks once approved, or your benefits may stop. With direct deposit, payment arrives two business days after your report is processed.
If you do not have a SIN yet, start with the Social Insurance Number guide. Before tax season, read the tax return guide to see how to report your employment income and benefits.
EI maternity and parental benefits (outside Quebec)
Maternity and parental benefits are part of Employment Insurance, but the condition is different: you need 600 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter, and your normal weekly earnings must have dropped by more than 40% for at least one week.
| Type | Maximum length | Rate | Weekly maximum | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity benefits | 15 weeks | 55% | $729 | Only for the person who gave birth; cannot be shared |
| Standard parental | 40 weeks shared between parents, with no more than 35 weeks for one parent | 55% | $729 | Must be used within 52 weeks of the birth or adoption |
| Extended parental | 69 weeks shared between parents, with no more than 61 weeks for one parent | 33% | $437 | Must be used within 78 weeks of the birth or adoption |
Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before the expected due date and as late as 17 weeks after the birth. Both parents must choose the same option, standard or extended, and each parent submits a separate application. Be careful: you cannot switch options once payments have started for either parent.
After the birth, do not forget the Canada child benefit (CCB).
In Quebec: QPIP instead of EI parental benefits
Quebec residents do not receive maternity and parental benefits from EI; they receive them from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP / RQAP). Regular unemployment benefits still come from federal EI. QPIP is easier to qualify for in terms of hours: you only need at least $2,000 in insurable earnings during the qualifying period, whatever the number of hours, along with a drop of at least 40% in your weekly earnings, and you must live in Quebec when your benefits start. Maximum insurable earnings in 2026 are $103,000.
| Benefit | Basic plan (longer, lower) | Special plan (shorter, higher) |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 18 weeks at 70% | 15 weeks at 75% |
| Paternity (non-birthing parent) | 5 weeks at 70% | 3 weeks at 75% |
| Shared parental | 32 weeks: the first 7 at 70%, then 25 at 55% | 25 weeks at 75% |
| Additional shared weeks | 4 weeks at 55% if each parent takes at least 8 weeks | 3 weeks at 75% if each parent takes at least 6 weeks |
What Employment Insurance does not do
- It is not a full salary. The maximum is $729 a week, whatever your previous pay.
- It is not automatic. You will not receive benefits unless you apply, and they will not continue unless you submit your reports every two weeks.
- It does not cover quitting without just cause, or dismissal for misconduct.
- It does not replace social assistance. If you do not qualify, you may be entitled to provincial programs, and settlement organizations can point you to them free of charge.
- This guide is not legal advice. The final decision on your eligibility belongs to Service Canada.
Frequently asked questions
I quit my job. Do I qualify for EI?
Usually not, unless Service Canada considers that you had just cause for quitting. Apply and explain your circumstances: the decision on eligibility belongs to the authority, not your employer.
I only worked 500 hours. Is that enough?
It is if the unemployment rate in your region is above 11%, because the requirement there is 490 hours or fewer. In a region with a rate of 6% or less, you need 700 hours.
When does the first payment arrive?
After your claim is approved and your first report is processed; with direct deposit, it arrives two business days after the report is processed. If your claim starts before 10 October 2026, there is no waiting week.
Are newcomers and work permit holders covered?
The requirement is to have worked in insurable employment and to meet the hours and other conditions. Do not assume you are ineligible: apply and have your situation assessed.
I live in Montreal and I am due to give birth soon. Where do I apply?
To QPIP / RQAP in Quebec, not to EI. You will choose between the basic and special plans when you apply, so compare them in the table above.
What is the difference between standard and extended parental benefits?
Standard is shorter and pays 55%, up to $729 a week. Extended is longer and pays 33%, up to $437. The total amount is roughly similar, but it is spread over a longer period.