What EI pays in 2026
EI replaces a portion of insurable earnings while you're unable to work. Five main benefit types:
• Regular benefits: 55% of weekly insurable earnings, 14-45 weeks depending on regional unemployment rate and hours worked • Maternity: 17 weeks (start up to 12 wks before due date), 55% of insurable earnings • Parental - standard: 35 weeks per family, 55% • Parental - extended: 61 weeks per family, 33% (lower rate, longer time) • Sickness: 26 weeks (raised from 15 in 2022), 55% • Caregiving: 15-35 weeks for critically ill family member, 55%
2026 maximum insurable earnings: $63,200. Maximum weekly benefit at 55%: $695/week ($36,140/year). Maximum at 33% (extended parental): $417/week.
Family Income Supplement: low-income families (combined income < $25,921) get an extra top-up, raising benefit rate to up to 80%.
Qualifying: hours and waiting periods
You need a minimum of insurable hours worked in your "qualifying period" (last 52 weeks or since last EI claim):
Regular benefits: 420-700 hours, depending on your region's unemployment rate. High-unemployment regions need fewer hours.
Maternity, parental, sickness: 600 insurable hours nationally. Self-employed who have opted into EI: 12 months of registration + meet earnings minimum.
Waiting period: 1 week unpaid waiting period at the start of any EI claim. Reduced from 2 weeks in 2017. The first week of unemployment / leave is "deductible" - benefits start in week 2.
Maximum claim length: depends on hours and regional unemployment rate. National average: 14-45 weeks for regular benefits. Maternity is fixed at 17 weeks. Parental fixed at 35 standard / 61 extended.
Apply within 4 weeks of the date you stop working, or you may lose benefits.
Parental: standard vs extended choice
Parents can choose ONCE between two parental benefit options. The choice is irrevocable and made by the first parent to claim - the second parent must use the same option.
Standard (the default): 35 weeks total per family, 55% replacement, max $695/week. Both parents combined cap at 35 weeks. Suits families wanting higher cash flow during leave.
Extended: 61 weeks total per family, 33% replacement, max $417/week. Cap at 61 weeks combined. Suits families wanting longer time off, with one parent's salary covering most expenses.
Decision math: total payout is similar: • Standard: 35 wks × $695 = $24,325 • Extended: 61 wks × $417 = $25,437
Extended pays slightly more in total (~$1,100) but stretched across nearly 2x the time, so monthly cash flow is half. Most families with one solid earner and one on leave choose extended; dual-earner couples with high carrying costs lean standard.
Maternity (17 weeks, mother only) is separate and stacks on top of parental. Total leave: maternity + parental = 52 weeks (standard) or 78 weeks (extended).
Earning while on EI: 50% threshold
You can work part-time while collecting EI, but earnings reduce your benefit:
Working While on Claim: keep $0.50 of every dollar earned, up to 90% of your prior insurable earnings. Above 90%, dollar-for-dollar reduction.
Worked example: prior weekly earnings $1,000. EI benefit $550/wk. You work part-time and earn $400/wk. • Earnings cap: $1,000 × 90% = $900 • Earnings of $400 are under the cap • EI reduction: 50% × $400 = $200 • EI you keep: $550 - $200 = $350 • Total income: $400 + $350 = $750/wk (vs $550 if you stayed home)
Report earnings every 2 weeks via My Service Canada Account. Failure to report = potential overpayment + penalties.
For maternity / parental: earnings during these benefits get the same 50% treatment, except the 90% cap is harder to hit (since the prior earnings might be lower). Consult a benefits agent if planning self-employment during parental leave.
EI is taxable: plan for tax time
EI benefits are fully taxable as ordinary income. CRA / Service Canada withholds only 10% federal tax at source - no provincial withholding, no CPP, no second-tier federal tax. So if your full-year income (employment + EI) lands you in a higher tax bracket, you'll owe more at tax time.
Worked example: $80K employment income for 8 months + $36K EI for 4 months = ~$80K + $36K = $116K total. Marginal bracket is ~30-35% (federal + provincial combined). EI was taxed at 10%; you'll owe ~$7,000-$9,000 extra at tax time.
Recommendations: • Set aside 20-25% of every EI payment in a separate account for tax • If you're returning to work mid-year, expect a balance due in April • Use the T1213 form to request additional withholding from EI • EI counts as income for CCB purposes - a high-EI year doesn't increase CCB; a low-EI year (e.g., extended parental at 33%) may increase it next year
Clawback: above a high-income threshold (~$76K-$78K depending on year), regular EI benefits are clawed back at 30% via tax filing. Maternity / parental / sickness are NOT subject to the clawback.
Run the math for your situation
Use our 🇨🇦 Canada calculator to plug in your own numbers and see exactly what you owe / save.