Losing a job is stressful. Employment Insurance (EI) provides financial support while you look for work. This guide walks you through the entire process from eligibility to your first payment.
What Is Employment Insurance?
EI is a federal program that provides temporary income replacement if you:
- Lose your job through no fault of your own (layoff, company closure)
- Cannot work due to illness, injury, or quarantine
- Are off work for pregnancy or parental leave
- Are caring for a critically ill family member
This guide focuses on regular EI benefits for job loss.
Am I Eligible?
Basic Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Insurable employment | Must have worked for an employer who deducted EI premiums |
| Hours requirement | 420–700 insurable hours in past 52 weeks |
| Job separation | Lost job through no fault of your own |
| Canada resident | Must live in Canada |
| Available for work | Able and willing to work |
| Actively looking | Must be job searching |
Regional Hours Requirements (2026)
Hours required vary by regional unemployment rate:
| Regional Unemployment Rate | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| 6% and under | 700 hours |
| 6.1%–7% | 665 hours |
| 7.1%–8% | 630 hours |
| 8.1%–9% | 595 hours |
| 9.1%–10% | 560 hours |
| 10.1%–11% | 525 hours |
| 11.1%–12% | 490 hours |
| 12.1%–13% | 455 hours |
| Over 13% | 420 hours |
Can I Get EI If I Quit?
Generally no — but there are exceptions for just cause:
| Situation | EI Eligible? |
|---|---|
| Laid off / downsizing | ✅ Yes |
| Contract ended | ✅ Yes |
| Quit due to toxic/unsafe workplace | ✅ Possible (must prove just cause) |
| Quit for personal reasons | ❌ No |
| Fired for misconduct | ❌ No |
If you quit due to harassment, unsafe conditions, or significant changes to your job (pay cut, location change, duties), you may have “just cause.” Document everything, and review can you get EI if you quit before you submit your claim.
How Much Will I Receive?
Calculating Your Benefit
EI pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum.
| Metric | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum insurable earnings | $65,700/year |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $795/week (55% × $65,700 / 52) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | Based on 55% of your actual earnings |
Calculation Examples
| Annual Salary | Weekly Earnings | EI Benefit (55%) |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $769 | $423/week |
| $55,000 | $1,058 | $582/week |
| $65,700 | $1,263 | $695/week |
| $80,000+ | (capped) | $795/week (max) |
Low-income supplement: If your net family income is under $26,886 and you have children, you may receive up to 80% of earnings (instead of 55%).
How Long Do Benefits Last?
| Regional Unemployment | Min Weeks | Max Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6% | 14 | 36 |
| 6%–7% | 17 | 38 |
| 7%–8% | 17 | 40 |
| 8%–9% | 20 | 42 |
| 9%–10% | 21 | 44 |
| 10%–13% | 23 | 46 |
| Over 13% | 26 | 45 |
Maximum benefit period is generally 14–45 weeks depending on your region and hours worked.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
Step 1: Get Your Record of Employment (ROE)
Your employer must issue a ROE within 5 business days of your last day. The ROE shows:
- Your insurable hours
- Reason for separation (must say “layoff” for regular EI)
- Insurable earnings by pay period
If your employer delays the ROE: Apply anyway — write “ROE not yet available” and Service Canada will contact your employer.
ROEs are usually issued electronically directly to Service Canada. You may not receive a paper copy.
Step 2: Apply Online (Do It Immediately)
Apply at My Service Canada Account or call 1-800-206-7218.
Apply as soon as you stop working. You cannot claim retroactively — every week you delay is a week of benefits you may forfeit.
What You Need to Apply
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Social Insurance Number (SIN) | Your tax ID |
| Personal information | Address, banking details for direct deposit |
| Employment history (52 weeks) | All jobs, not just most recent |
| ROE details | Your employer’s information |
| Reason for leaving | Be accurate — misrepresentation is fraud |
| Availability for work | Confirm you are available |
Step 3: Serve the Waiting Period
There is a 1-week waiting period (waiting period) before benefits begin. No benefits are paid for that week.
After the waiting period, create biweekly reports (every 2 weeks) to receive payment.
Step 4: Submit Biweekly Reports
You must submit a claimant report every 2 weeks to continue receiving EI. Reports ask:
- Did you work during the period? If so, how much did you earn?
- Did you look for work? Provide 2 job search contacts per week
- Were you available for work?
- Did you refuse any work?
Report income honestly. You keep $0.50 of your EI for every $1 earned (up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings). Concealing earnings is fraud.
EI While Working Part-Time
If you find part-time work, you keep receiving partial EI:
| You Earn | EI Reduction |
|---|---|
| Under 90% of weekly insurable earnings | Keep $0.50 of EI per $1 earned |
| Over 90% of weekly insurable earnings | EI reduced dollar for dollar |
This makes it worth accepting part-time work — you still receive partial EI.
What Happens After You Apply
| Timeline | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Apply as soon as last day of work |
| 1–2 weeks | Review of application |
| 2–3 weeks | First payment deposited (direct deposit) |
| Biweekly | Submit claimant reports |
| Ongoing | Keep looking for work |
| End of benefits | Return to work or exhaust benefit period |
Common Reasons EI Is Denied or Delayed
| Reason | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Not enough insurable hours | Check exact hours — sometimes counted incorrectly |
| Voluntary quit | Challenge if you had just cause |
| Dismissed for misconduct | Challenge if misconduct claim is exaggerated |
| Waiting for ROE | Apply anyway, ROE can be submitted later |
| Not available for work | Must be genuinely available and searching |
| Stopped submitting reports | Resume immediately |
If You Are Denied
You have 30 days to request a reconsideration of the decision. If still denied, you can appeal to the Social Security Tribunal.
Services Canada makes errors — do not assume a denial is final.
Taxes on EI
EI benefits are taxable income. Service Canada withholds federal tax automatically, but provincial tax is not withheld.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Receive T4E slip | Shows total EI received and tax withheld |
| Report on T1 return | Enter T4E amounts |
| May owe additional tax | If provincial tax was not withheld enough |
| High income repayment | If your annual income exceeds ~$79,000, repay 30% of benefits |