Last Updated On 25 January 2026, 10:21 AM EST (Toronto Time)
In 2026, Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) has already shifted in ways most Canadians will feel in 2 places: the amount that comes off each paycheque and the maximum weekly benefit a claimant can receive if they need EI this year.
That is because EI “rules” in 2026 are not one single policy change.
They are a bundle of annual resets (premium rates, maximum insurable earnings, maximum weekly benefits) plus temporary measures that are currently active and materially change how fast people can start receiving money after a job loss.
If you are working today, your EI deductions are now based on the 2026 premium rate and the new maximum insurable earnings cap.
If you are laid off this winter and you start a claim now, there is also a major difference versus a normal year:
the one-week waiting period is waived for new claims that start in the current temporary-measures window, and separation earnings like severance or pay in lieu of notice may not reduce your EI benefits under the same window.
This fact-based guide explains what changed, what is temporary, what is permanent, and what it means for workers, employers, and anyone who may need EI in 2026.
Table of Contents
What is EI and what counts as “new rules” in 2026
Employment Insurance is a federal insurance program that provides temporary income replacement to eligible workers who lose employment through no fault of their own, and it also provides special benefits in situations like maternity, parental leave, sickness, caregiving, and compassionate care.
When people say “EI rules changed,” they usually mean one of four things:
- how much you pay into EI (premium rate and maximum annual premium)
- how much you can receive (maximum weekly benefit and benefit calculation rules)
- how long you can receive EI (weeks payable and any temporary extensions)
- how quickly payments begin (waiting period and how severance or other separation earnings are treated)
In 2026, all four areas matter because:
- the EI premium rate is set for 2026 and payroll deductions changed on January 1
- maximum insurable earnings increased for 2026, which raises both the maximum annual premium and the maximum weekly benefit
- temporary measures remain in effect into April 2026 that waive the waiting period, suspend separation-earnings allocation, and extend weeks for some long-tenured workers
The biggest 2026 changes at a glance
Here is the fastest way to understand what is actually “new” for 2026.
- EI premium rate (outside Quebec): $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings (down from $1.64 in 2025)
- Maximum insurable earnings (MIE): $68,900 in 2026 (up from $65,700 in 2025)
- Maximum weekly EI benefit (regular benefits): $729 per week in 2026 (up from $695 in 2025)
- Maximum annual employee EI premium (outside Quebec): $1,123.07 in 2026 (up from $1,077.48 in 2025)
- Temporary measures (still active in early 2026):
- waiting period waived for claims starting between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026
- separation earnings not deducted from benefits for claims/allocation starting between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026
- up to 20 extra weeks of regular benefits (to a maximum of 65 weeks) for eligible long-tenured workers with claims starting between June 15, 2025 and April 11, 2026
The biggest practical takeaway is simple: the payroll numbers are already in effect, and the temporary measures that change how fast benefits start are still live right now.
EI calculator: Enter weekly earnings for an instant estimate (55% rate, 2026 cap).
EI Weekly Payment Estimator (2026)
Estimate your weekly Employment Insurance amount using the standard EI rate (55%), the 2026 maximum weekly benefit, and optional “working while on claim” offsets. This is an estimate only; actual EI depends on your claim details and Service Canada calculations.
Notes: This tool applies the standard EI rate (55%) and caps the weekly amount at the 2026 maximums shown. For “working while on claim,” it estimates the common rule of $0.50 benefit reduction per $1 earned and optionally applies a 90% earnings cap if you provide your previous weekly earnings. Taxes, special cases, and Service Canada calculations may change the final amount.
New EI premium rate and maximum EI contribution in 2026
New EI premium rate for 2026
For 2026, the EI premium rate for employees outside Quebec is $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings.
Employers generally pay 1.4 times the employee premium, which is why the employer rate is effectively $2.28 per $100 of insurable earnings in most cases.
This is a small change from 2025, but it matters because EI is deducted on every pay period until you hit the maximum insurable earnings cap.
Maximum annual EI premium in 2026
Because EI contributions only apply up to the maximum annual insurable earnings amount, there is also a maximum annual premium.
For 2026, the CRA payroll table lists:
- Maximum annual insurable earnings: $68,900
- Employee premium rate (outside Quebec): 1.63%
- Maximum annual employee premium: $1,123.07
- Maximum annual employer premium: $1,572.30
Once your year-to-date insurable earnings reach $68,900, EI deductions stop for the rest of the year.
Quebec EI premium rate in 2026
Quebec has a lower EI premium rate because Quebec has its own parental insurance plan (QPIP), which replaces part of what EI covers elsewhere for maternity/parental benefits.
For 2026, the CRA table lists for Quebec:
- Employee EI premium rate (Quebec): 1.30%
- Maximum annual employee premium (Quebec): $895.70
- Maximum annual employer premium (Quebec): $1,253.98
What workers will notice on paycheques in 2026
The premium rate is slightly lower than 2025, but the earnings cap is higher. That means:
- many lower- and mid-income workers may see very small changes per pay period
- higher earners will contribute EI on a larger portion of income before hitting the cap, which pushes the annual maximum premium higher
A quick illustration (outside Quebec, simplified annualized view):
| Annual insurable earnings | Estimated 2026 employee EI premium |
|---|---|
| $40,000 | ~$652.00 |
| $60,000 | ~$978.00 |
| $68,900 or more | $1,123.07 (maximum) |
These are approximate because payroll systems calculate per pay and rounding can vary slightly, but they match the 1.63% rule and the $68,900 cap.
New maximum insurable earnings and maximum weekly EI benefit in 2026
Maximum insurable earnings (MIE) increased for 2026
For 2026, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $68,900.
MIE matters because it drives two separate outcomes:
- how much EI premium you can be charged in a year (the maximum annual premium)
- the maximum weekly EI benefit amount a claimant can receive in that year
Maximum weekly EI benefit is now $729
EI regular benefits are generally calculated at 55% of a claimant’s average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount.
As of January 1, 2026, the maximum weekly EI benefit is $729 per week.
This maximum is one of the most searched EI facts because it is the ceiling that applies to many benefit types that use the standard weekly rate framework.
Service Canada also notes that for claims beginning on or after December 28, 2025, the maximum weekly EI benefit rate is $729 (up from $695 in 2025).
Extended parental benefits maximum changed too
For extended parental benefits, Service Canada notes a separate maximum weekly amount of $437 in 2026 (up from $417 in 2025) for claims beginning on or after December 28, 2025.
This is one of the reasons EI “maximum benefit” numbers can confuse people: different EI benefit types can have different weekly maximums depending on the benefit design.
Temporary EI measures still active in early 2026
If you are reading this around January 25, these temporary measures are one of the most important “rules” to understand because they change the early weeks of a claim.
The federal government has a dedicated EI page for temporary measures introduced “to respond to major changes in economic conditions.” These measures are currently active into April 2026.
Waiting period waived for many new claims
Normally, EI has a one-week waiting period (a deductible-like week you are not paid).
Under the temporary measure, the waiting period is waived for all new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026.
There is also an important nuance that can change decisions for some workers: you may choose to serve the waiting period if it benefits you because of a top-up from a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan.
Why this matters in plain terms:
- if your claim starts within the temporary window, you may receive benefits sooner than you would under normal EI rules
- this is especially relevant for layoffs in early 2026, because the window is still open right now
Separation earnings allocation suspended in the same window
Under normal rules, certain earnings paid because of separation can reduce EI through allocation, including items like vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, and closure bonuses.
Under the temporary measure, if your claim or the allocation starts between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026, earnings from separation are not deducted from your benefits.
For many laid-off workers, this is a major practical change because it can reduce the “gap” between job loss and EI support even when severance is involved.
Long-tenured workers may receive up to 20 extra weeks of EI
A second temporary measure adds time for a specific group.
Eligible long-tenured workers may receive 20 additional weeks of regular benefits, up to a maximum of 65 weeks, if their claim starts between June 15, 2025 and April 11, 2026 and they meet the definition.
Service Canada’s criteria include both of the following:
- fewer than 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits in the 3 years before the start of the claim
- paid at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premiums for at least 7 of the 10 years before the year the claim starts
If a claimant qualifies, Service Canada states the additional weeks are added automatically and the period during which benefits can be received is extended by 20 weeks.
How EI eligibility works in 2026?
EI eligibility is not identical everywhere in Canada because the number of hours required depends on the unemployment rate in your EI region.
Service Canada’s EI regular benefits eligibility page states that, based on the unemployment rate in your region, you need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period to qualify for regular benefits.
This is why “EI rules” often feel inconsistent across provinces: the entrance requirement moves with local unemployment.
Why the “qualifying period” matters
The qualifying period is the window Service Canada uses to count your insurable hours and earnings (often the prior 52 weeks, with exceptions in some circumstances).
The key practical point is that EI is time-bound: hours outside the qualifying window usually do not help.
Regional EI tables change throughout the year
The EI system uses regional unemployment rates and economic regions to set:
- hours required to qualify
- minimum and maximum weeks payable
- number of “best weeks” used in the benefit calculation
That is why someone can be eligible in one region with fewer hours than someone in another region with the same work history.
How EI calculates your weekly payment in 2026
The standard EI benefit rate is 55%
For most claimants, the basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to the maximum amount.
In 2026, that maximum weekly amount is $729.
Your “best weeks” can change the result materially
EI does not necessarily average all weeks the same way. It uses a “variable best weeks” approach.
Service Canada states the number of weeks used ranges from 14 to 22, depending on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region.
Why this matters:
- if your earnings fluctuated (seasonal work, overtime bursts, variable schedules), the best weeks system can produce a higher EI rate than a straight average would
- it also means two people with the same annual income can receive different EI weekly rates depending on when their highest-earning weeks occurred inside the qualifying period
Family supplement can raise EI rate in specific cases
EI has a family supplement feature that can raise the benefit rate up to 80% of average insurable earnings for eligible low-income families with children.
Service Canada notes that the family supplement may increase benefit rate up to 80%, but it decreases as family income rises and stops once family income exceeds $25,921.
This is one of the most overlooked EI rules because many people do not realize the EI percentage is not always a flat 55% in every household situation.
How many weeks you can receive EI in 2026 and what can extend it
Regular EI benefits do not have a single national duration. Duration depends on:
- insurable hours accumulated
- regional unemployment rate
OSFI’s actuarial report summary notes the maximum number of regular benefit weeks varies from 14 to 45 weeks depending on hours and regional unemployment rate, and the maximum duration can be extended through temporary special measures.
That “temporary special measures” line matters in early 2026 because the long-tenured worker measure can add up to 20 weeks, bringing some claims to a maximum of 65 weeks if the criteria are met.
Working while on EI in 2026
One of the highest-intent EI questions each year is whether you can work while receiving EI and how the clawback works.
Service Canada’s “Working While on Claim” rules state:
- you can keep 50 cents of EI benefits for every $1 you earn, up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings
- above that cap, EI benefits are deducted dollar-for-dollar
- if you work a full week, you are not eligible to receive EI benefits for that week, regardless of earnings, but it does not reduce the total weeks payable on the claim
This structure is designed to make part-time or transitional work pay while still preventing double-dipping at near-full-time levels.
EI special benefits in 2026
Many people use “EI” as shorthand for job-loss benefits, but EI also includes special benefits.
The “rules” for these benefits can have different durations and calculations, but many still use the same best-weeks approach.
EI sickness benefits and the same best-weeks logic
Service Canada notes that for EI sickness benefit calculations, it uses a number of highest-paid weeks (best weeks) based on the unemployment rate where you live, and that number can be between 14 and 22.
Maternity and parental benefits also reference best weeks
Service Canada similarly references best weeks for maternity and parental benefit calculations.
For 2026, the extended parental maximum weekly amount is also separately stated as $437 for claims beginning on or after December 28, 2025.
Why Quebec is different for parental benefits
Quebec’s lower EI premium rate is tied to the fact that Quebec has QPIP, which provides maternity/parental/adoption benefits in Quebec, and that reduces the EI portion required for those benefits.
Work-Sharing special measures in 2026 for employers
EI is not only an individual claimant program.
It also has employer-facing tools like the Work-Sharing Program, which helps employers avoid layoffs during temporary downturns by sharing reduced work among employees, with EI providing partial income support.
The Work-Sharing Program states that, from March 7, 2025 to March 6, 2026, there are special measures in response to the threat or potential realization of tariffs.
Under these tariffs special measures, the page notes flexibilities including:
- maximum duration of a Work-Sharing agreement up to 76 weeks
- waiving the required cooling-off period between successive agreements while special measures are in place
- expanded employer eligibility and expanded employee eligibility (including seasonal/cyclical contexts)
If you are an employer dealing with reduced demand in early 2026, this is one of the most practical “new rule” areas because it can change whether layoffs are necessary.
What to do right now if you expect a layoff or reduced hours
As of 2026, there are two planning realities that matter more than general EI advice:
- your claim start date can determine whether you benefit from waived waiting period and suspended separation earnings allocation
- your region’s unemployment rate can determine whether you meet the hours requirement and how your weekly benefit is calculated
Practical steps that reduce risk:
- apply as soon as you stop working so your claim is established promptly (this matters for temporary measures windows)
- confirm your Record of Employment is issued correctly and quickly
- keep a clean list of your last day worked, separation details, and any separation payments (vacation pay, severance, pay in lieu), because the temporary separation-earnings rule depends on claim/allocation timing
- if you plan to do part-time work while on EI, understand the 50-cent rule and the 90% cap so you can predict what the net benefit week will look like
The “new EI rules” in 2026 are not a single headline change. They are a combination of annual resets and temporary measures that are unusually important right now.
The annual resets are already in effect: the EI premium rate is set at 1.63% outside Quebec, maximum insurable earnings increased to $68,900, and the maximum weekly EI benefit rose to $729.
But the most immediately useful changes for workers in late January 2026 are the temporary measures still active into April:
a waived waiting period for many new claims, separation earnings not deducted from benefits in the same window, and a 20-week extension for eligible long-tenured workers that can push regular benefits up to a 65-week maximum.
If you may need EI this winter, focus on the two levers that most often determine outcomes: when your claim starts and what your region’s EI rules are based on unemployment rate.
Those two details can change how fast payments begin, how the weekly rate is calculated, and how long benefits can last.
Frequently asked questions about New EI rules in 2026
What is the 2026 EI premium rate and why does it matter?
The 2026 employee EI premium rate outside Quebec is $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings, and it applies until you reach the $68,900 maximum insurable earnings cap. It matters because it changes paycheque deductions and determines the maximum annual EI premium.
What is the maximum EI weekly benefit in 2026?
The maximum weekly EI benefit for 2026 is $729 per week, reflecting the new maximum insurable earnings level.
Do you still have to wait a week for EI in 2026?
Not always, the waiting period is waived for all new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026, which includes early 2026.
Does severance or vacation pay still delay EI in 2026?
Under the temporary measure, if your claim or allocation starts between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026, separation earnings like vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, and severance pay are not deducted from benefits.
How many hours do you need to qualify for EI in 2026?
Service Canada states you need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period to qualify for regular benefits, depending on the unemployment rate in your region.
Can you work while receiving EI in 2026?
Yes, Service Canada’s rules allow claimants to keep 50 cents of benefits for every $1 earned up to 90% of previous weekly earnings, then benefits are reduced dollar-for-dollar above that cap, and working a full week makes you ineligible for EI that week.
Can I get EI if I quit my job or get fired?
If you quit, EI is usually only payable if you can show you had just cause, meaning you had no reasonable alternative to leaving. If you were fired, you may still qualify unless Service Canada determines you lost the job because of misconduct. The key distinction is voluntary leaving versus misconduct, and both are assessed case by case based on evidence.
Can I travel outside Canada while receiving EI?
In most cases, you must be in Canada and available for work to receive EI regular benefits. If you leave Canada, you may be considered not available and could lose eligibility for those days. There are limited exceptions in specific situations (for example, certain approved travel reasons), so the safest approach is to check your specific benefit type and report travel accurately before you go.
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