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How Much EI Will I Get? The 2026 EI Calculation Explained

EI regular benefits pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings over your best 14 to 22 weeks, up to $729 a week in 2026. You get 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and the local unemployment rate. Low-income families with children may get the family supplement, up to 80%.

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Free tool: EI Calculator 2026: Estimate Your Weekly EI and Weeks

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The calculation

  1. Add up your insurable earnings in your best weeks (the weeks you earned the most, including tips and commissions).
  2. Divide by the number of best weeks for your region (14 to 22).
  3. Multiply by 55%. The result is capped at $729 a week in 2026.

Your weekly rate stays the same for the whole claim.

Best weeks used, by unemployment rate

Regional unemployment rateBest weeks
6% or less22
6.1% to 7%21
7.1% to 8%20
8.1% to 9%19
9.1% to 10%18
10.1% to 11%17
11.1% to 12%16
12.1% to 13%15
13.1% or more14

How many weeks you get

Between 14 and 45 weeks. More hours worked and a higher local unemployment rate mean more weeks. For example, with 1,400 hours in a region at 6% or less, you get 24 weeks. Our EI calculator uses the full official table.

Moving to another region after your claim starts doesn't change your weeks.

Family supplement

If your net family income is $25,921 or less, you have children and you or your spouse get the Canada child benefit, the family supplement can raise your rate up to 80% of your earnings. Only one spouse can get it at a time.

Taxes

All EI benefits are taxable. Federal and provincial tax is deducted from each payment, and you get a T4E slip.

Phone numbers

Employment Insurance (automated info 24/7, press 0 for an officer)

1-800-206-7218

Officers: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Automated service: 24/7.

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-877-486-1650

TTY: 1-800-529-3742

Related

Free tool EI Calculator 2026: Estimate Your Weekly EI and Weeks Enter your earnings, insurable hours and your region's unemployment rate to estimate your weekly EI regular benefit (55%, up to $729 in 2026) and how many weeks you could get, using Service Canada's published tables. Employment Insurance (EI) 2026: Who Qualifies and How Much Employment Insurance pays up to 55% of your average insurable earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026, if you lose your job through no fault of your own or can't work because of illness, a new child or caring for someone. Most people need 420 to 700 insured work hours. Working While on EI: How Earnings Affect Your Benefits You can work while on EI regular benefits. You keep 50 cents of your benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of the weekly earnings your EI was based on; above that, earnings are deducted dollar for dollar. Report all work and earnings for the week you did the work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum EI payment in 2026?

$729 a week for regular, sickness, maternity, standard parental and caregiving benefits. Extended parental pays up to $437.

Is EI calculated on gross or net pay?

On insurable earnings before tax, such as wages, tips, bonuses and commissions.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.