What is Employment Insurance?
Employment Insurance (EI) is a federal program that provides temporary financial support to Canadians who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, as well as to those who are sick, pregnant, caring for a newborn, or supporting a critically ill family member. Most employed Canadians pay EI premiums through payroll deductions and are entitled to benefits when needed.
Apply immediately — don't waitApply for EI as soon as your last day of work. There is a 1-week unpaid waiting period before benefits begin, and your entitlement period starts from the date you apply — not the date you became unemployed. Waiting costs you money.
Who qualifies for regular EI benefits?
To receive regular EI benefits after a job loss you must have paid EI premiums in the past year, have worked the required number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, have lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, end of contract, shortage of work), and be available and actively looking for work.
The number of insurable hours required depends on the unemployment rate in your region. In areas with lower unemployment, you need more hours — typically 420 to 700 hours in the past 52 weeks.
How much will you receive?
EI pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum insurable earnings amount of $65,700 in 2026. The maximum weekly benefit is $695. Lower-income claimants with dependants may receive a family supplement that increases the benefit rate up to 80% of their earnings.
Types of EI benefits
| Type | Situation | Max duration |
|---|---|---|
| Regular benefits | Job loss, layoff, shortage of work | 14–45 weeks |
| Sickness benefits | Unable to work due to illness, injury | 26 weeks |
| Maternity benefits | Pregnant or recently gave birth | 15 weeks |
| Parental benefits (standard) | Caring for newborn or adopted child | 35 weeks |
| Parental benefits (extended) | Caring for newborn at 33% rate | 61 weeks |
| Caregiver benefits | Caring for critically ill family member | 15–35 weeks |
How to apply — step by step
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1Get your Record of Employment (ROE)
Your employer must issue your ROE within 5 calendar days of your last day of work. Most employers issue it electronically directly to Service Canada — you don't need a physical copy to apply. If your employer is late, apply anyway and note that the ROE is pending.
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2Apply online through My Service Canada Account
Go to canada.ca and apply through My Service Canada Account. The online application takes about 30–60 minutes. Have your SIN, banking information for direct deposit, and employment history for the past 52 weeks ready before you start.
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3Complete the waiting period
There is a 1-week unpaid waiting period at the start of your claim — this is mandatory and applies to almost all EI claims. You do not receive benefits for this week. Your benefits begin from week 2 of your claim.
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4File biweekly reports
You must file a report every two weeks to continue receiving EI. Reports confirm you are available for work, declare any earnings, and update your job search activities. File online through My Service Canada Account or by telephone. Missing a report can result in delayed or stopped payments.
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5Report any earnings while on EI
If you work part-time or earn any income while receiving EI, you must declare it. You can keep 50 cents of every dollar earned up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings — anything above that is deducted dollar for dollar. Not reporting earnings is fraud.
EI is taxable incomeEI benefits are fully taxable. Service Canada withholds income tax at source, but you may owe additional tax at filing if you have other income during the year. You will receive a T4E slip in February showing the total EI received and taxes withheld.