EI Benefits Calculator
Employment Insurance pays 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to $729 a week in 2026. How many weeks you get depends on your insurable hours and your EI region’s unemployment rate — between 14 and 45. Three temporary measures are in force right now and expire on 10 October 2026, including the one that stops severance from delaying your claim.
Step 1 of 3
What EI would pay you
$605.00
a week, before tax
You have enough hours — 665 are needed at that unemployment rate.
In force until 10 October 2026
- No one-week waiting period Benefits start from your first week of unemployment instead of your second.
- Severance does not delay your claim Severance, pay in lieu of notice, vacation payout and closure bonuses are not deducted or allocated forward.
- Up to 20 extra weeks for long-tenured workers Raises the ceiling from 45 weeks to 65 for workers with a long contribution history and few past claims.
After that: A one-week unpaid waiting period returns. Separation pay is allocated forward again, pushing your start date back by however many weeks it covers. The ordinary maximum of 45 weeks applies.
How this was worked out
- Your weekly benefit$1,100.00 average weekly earnings × 55% = $605.00
- You have enough hours1400 hours against the 665 your region requires at 6.5% unemployment
- How long you are paid26 weeks, from the schedule for 1400 hours at 6.5% regional unemployment
- No waiting period right nowThe one-week waiting period is waived for claims starting up to 10 October 2026.
$605.00 a week for 26 weeks, $15,730.00 in total.
$605.00 a week is roughly 55% of what you were earning. If you are still working and payday is the problem, NotchUp can advance up to $1,500 of wages you have already earned for a $5 flat fee.
See what you could advance- 55%of your weekly earnings
- $729weekly maximum, 2026
- 10 Octwhen the temporary rules end
Three rules are about to change
The other two: the one-week waiting period is waived, so benefits start from your first week rather than your second, and long-tenured workers get up to 20 extra weeks, raising the ceiling from 45 to 65.
A one-year extension was announced on 25 August 2026 in the federal tariff-support package, but no regulation has been registered. Until one is, 10 October stands.
How much you get
Your benefit is 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings. That average is taken from your best weeks — between 14 and 22 of them, depending on your region’s unemployment rate.
The ceiling is the part people miss. Maximum insurable earnings for 2026 are $68,900, which works out to $1,325 a week. Earn more than that and your benefit does not rise — everyone above the ceiling gets the same $729.
So someone on $70,000 and someone on $200,000 receive an identical EI cheque. The replacement rate is just over half your pay for the first, and well under a quarter for the second.
How long it lasts, and whether you qualify at all
Both answers come from the same place: your insurable hours and your EI region’s unemployment rate.
| Regional unemployment rate | Insurable hours needed | Best weeks averaged |
|---|---|---|
| 6% or under | 700 | 22 |
| more than 6%, up to 7% | 665 | 21 |
| more than 8%, up to 9% | 595 | 19 |
| more than 11%, up to 12% | 490 | 16 |
| more than 13% | 420 | 14 |
A higher local unemployment rate means fewer hours needed, fewer weeks averaged into your rate, and more weeks of benefit. Weeks payable range from 14 to 45.
Three things that catch people out
EI is taxable, and the tax withheld is not enough. Tax comes off at the lowest bracket only, so many claimants owe money at filing.
High earners repay some of it. If your net income for the year tops $86,125, you repay 30% of the lesser of your benefits and the excess. First-time claimants are exempt.
Working while on claim keeps half. For every dollar you earn, 50 cents comes off your benefit, up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings. Above that it is dollar for dollar, and a full working week pays nothing at all — though it does not use up an entitlement week either.
Frequently asked questions
How much EI will I get?
55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026. The average is taken from your best 14 to 22 weeks depending on your region’s unemployment rate. Earnings above $1,325 a week do not increase your benefit.
Does severance delay my EI?
Not right now. Separation pay — severance, pay in lieu of notice, vacation payout — is not deducted or allocated forward for claims starting up to 10 October 2026. After that date it is allocated again, pushing your start date back by however many weeks it covers.
Is there still a waiting period for EI?
Not for claims starting up to 10 October 2026 — the one-week waiting period is waived, so benefits begin in your first week of unemployment. The unpaid week returns after that unless the announced extension is enacted.
How many hours do I need to qualify for EI?
Between 420 and 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, depending on your EI region’s unemployment rate. A region at 6% or under needs 700 hours; a region above 13% needs 420. The rate is republished every four weeks, so check the current figure for your region.
How many weeks of EI can I get?
Between 14 and 45, set by your insurable hours and your regional unemployment rate together. Long-tenured workers can get up to 20 extra weeks, to a ceiling of 65, for claims starting up to 10 October 2026.
Is EI taxable?
Yes, fully. Tax is withheld at source but only at the lowest bracket, so many claimants owe more at filing. If your net income for the year exceeds $86,125 you also repay 30% of the lesser of your benefits and the amount above that threshold — unless you are a first-time claimant.
Can I work while on EI?
Yes. For every dollar you earn, 50 cents is deducted from your benefit, up to a threshold of 90% of your previous weekly earnings. Above that it comes off dollar for dollar. A week in which you work full time pays nothing, but it does not consume an entitlement week either.
Sources
Every rate, threshold and formula on this page was verified against these primary sources. If a figure here disagrees with one of them, the source is right and we want to know.