How Much Is Employment Insurance in Canada?

Employment Insurance in Canada pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings up to a maximum of $695 per week for 2026, based on maximum insurable earnings of $65,700. The exact amount you receive depends on your average earnings over the qualifying period, the number of best weeks used in the calculation, and whether you qualify for the EI Family Supplement as a low-income claimant with dependent children. Most claimants receive between $300 and $695 per week depending on their personal earnings history.

This guide explains exactly how the EI benefit amount is calculated, what the 2026 rates are, and what affects how much you personally will receive.

How EI Benefit Amounts Are Calculated in Canada?

The Employment Insurance benefit calculation follows a standard federal formula that applies to most claimants across Canada. Understanding each component of the formula helps you estimate your own benefit before you apply. For a complete overview of the EI program including all benefit types, eligibility conditions, and how the system works nationally, our complete guide on employment insurance in Canada covers the full framework in plain language.

1. The Basic EI Calculation Formula

First, your total insurable earnings from the qualifying period are identified. The qualifying period is the shorter of the last 52 weeks or the time since your last EI claim. From those earnings, Service Canada identifies your best weeks, the weeks with the highest insurable earnings, and uses those to calculate your average weekly earnings.

The number of best weeks used in the calculation is determined by a regional divisor that varies by economic region. The divisors range from 14 to 22 weeks. In regions with higher unemployment, a smaller divisor is used, which produces a higher average weekly earnings figure and therefore a higher benefit amount. In regions with lower unemployment, a larger divisor is used, which produces a lower average.

2. The EI Family Supplement

Low-income claimants who have net family income below $25,921 and have dependent children may qualify for the EI Family Supplement. This supplement increases the benefit rate above the standard 55%, up to a maximum of 80% of average insurable weekly earnings for the lowest-income claimants.

The supplement is calculated automatically by Service Canada based on information from your income tax return. You do not need to apply for it separately. If you qualify, the higher rate is applied from the start of your claim.

2026 EI Rates and Maximum Amounts

The federal government sets EI premium rates and maximum insurable earnings at the start of each year. The table below shows the key 2026 EI rates and amounts that apply to most Canadian workers and employers outside Quebec:

EI Factor	2026 Amount or Rate
Maximum insurable earnings	$65,700
Employee premium rate	1.64% of insurable earnings
Employer premium rate	2.296% (1.4 times employee rate)
Maximum weekly EI benefit	Approximately $695
Maximum annual employee premium	$1,077.48
Maximum annual employer premium per employee	$1,508.47
Quebec employee premium rate	1.31%
Quebec employer premium rate	1.834%
EI Family Supplement maximum rate	Up to 80% of insurable earnings

Quebec has lower EI premium rates because Quebec residents access maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan rather than the federal EI program. Our guide on employment insurance in Quebec explains how QPIP rates and benefits compare to the federal system for Quebec workers and employers.

How Many Hours Do You Need to Qualify for EI?

Before any benefit amount is calculated, a claimant must first meet the minimum insurable hours requirement for their economic region and benefit type. The required hours range from 420 to 700 for most benefit types, with the exact number determined by the unemployment rate in your region at the time you apply.

The table below shows how regional unemployment rates affect the minimum hours required to qualify for regular EI benefits in 2026:

Regional Unemployment Rate	Minimum Hours Required
6% and under	700 hours
6.1% to 7%	665 hours
7.1% to 8%	630 hours
8.1% to 9%	595 hours
9.1% to 10%	560 hours
10.1% to 11%	525 hours
11.1% to 12%	490 hours
12.1% to 13%	455 hours
Over 13%	420 hours

These hour requirements apply to regular benefits. Maternity, parental, sickness, and caregiving benefits have a fixed requirement of 600 insurable hours regardless of the regional unemployment rate.

How Long Can You Receive EI Benefits?

The duration of EI benefits depends on the type of benefit being claimed and, for regular benefits, on the regional unemployment rate and the number of insurable hours accumulated.

1. Regular Benefits Duration

Regular EI benefits last between 14 and 45 weeks. The exact number of weeks is determined by the number of insurable hours above the minimum threshold and the unemployment rate in your economic region at the time of your claim. Workers in higher unemployment regions with more insurable hours receive the longest benefit periods.

2. Other Benefit Durations

The duration of other EI benefit types is fixed regardless of region or hours. Maternity benefits last up to 15 weeks. Standard parental benefits last up to 40 weeks per family at 55% of earnings. Extended parental benefits last up to 69 weeks per family at the reduced rate of 33% of earnings. Sickness benefits last up to 26 weeks. Compassionate care benefits last up to 26 weeks. Family caregiver benefits for children last up to 35 weeks, and for adults up to 15 weeks.

For a detailed breakdown of what each benefit type covers, who can claim it, and the conditions that apply to each, our guide on employment insurance benefits in Canada covers every category in full detail.

The EI Clawback: When You May Have to Repay Benefits

High-income EI recipients may be required to repay a portion of their regular benefits through the EI clawback provision. For the 2026 benefit year, the clawback applies when net income exceeds $79,000. The repayment amount is calculated as 30% of the lesser of your net income above the threshold or your total regular EI benefits received during the year.

The repayment is assessed through your personal income tax return for the year. Service Canada reports your total EI benefits on a T4E slip, and the CRA calculates the clawback amount based on your reported net income. Our step-by-step guide to personal tax returns in Canada explains how to report T4E income and calculate any repayment owing accurately.

EI benefits are fully taxable income regardless of whether a clawback applies. If insufficient income tax was withheld from your EI payments throughout the year, you may owe a balance when you file your personal return. Our personal income tax services help EI recipients to report T4E correctly and manage any balance owing without surprises at tax time.

What Reduces Your EI Benefit Amount?

Several factors can reduce the EI benefit amount you receive below the calculated weekly maximum. Any earnings from employment while receiving EI benefits are deducted from your weekly payment. Under the current working while on claim rules, you can earn up to $75 or 40% of your weekly benefit amount, whichever is higher, without any reduction. Earnings above that threshold are deducted dollar for dollar from your weekly benefit.

Pension income from a former employer may also reduce your EI benefit depending on the type of pension and how it is structured. Severance payments, vacation pay paid out after termination, and other separation payments from an employer are treated as insurable earnings and may delay the start of your EI claim while those amounts are allocated.

Understanding these reductions before you start working while on claim or receive a severance package helps you avoid unexpected reductions in your weekly EI payment.

EI Premiums as a Business Owner and Employer

For business owners and employers, EI premium obligations are a mandatory payroll cost that must be calculated, deducted, and remitted correctly for every insurable employee every pay period. The employer’s share is 1.4 times the employee’s premium, which means for every dollar an employee contributes to EI, the employer contributes $1.40 on top.

Our team at Tax Return Filers Ltd. provides Payroll Services in Toronto, Bookkeeping in Mississauga, Brampton Payroll Services, and Brampton Corporate Tax Filing to make sure every employer EI obligation is calculated correctly, remitted on time, and never results in a CRA penalty. Our guide on payroll deductions in Canada covers exactly how EI premiums are calculated and remitted alongside CPP and income tax for Canadian employers.

Conclusion

Understanding how much employment insurance in Canada pays before you ever need to make a claim puts you in a stronger financial position. The 55% benefit rate, the regional divisor system, the Family Supplement for low-income claimants, and the clawback for high earners all affect the final amount that lands in your account each week. For most Canadian workers, EI benefits represent a meaningful but partial replacement of their regular income.

If you need help reporting EI income on your tax return, managing the clawback calculation, or handling payroll obligations as an employer, Tax Return Filers Ltd. is here to support Canadians across Toronto, Calgary, Mississauga, and Brampton with accurate, professional tax and payroll services throughout the year.