3 Canada EI Rules That Could Save You Thousands Before April 2026

Last Updated On 14 March 2026, 5:34 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

Three temporary Employment Insurance measures in Canada that could save laid-off workers thousands of dollars are set to expire on April 11, 2026.

Most Canadians do not know these special EI rules exist because they were quietly extended through federal regulations last fall.

If you are laid off before April 11, 2026, you could receive your first EI payment faster, keep your full severance, and potentially qualify for up to 65 weeks of benefits.

The temporary measures were introduced through the Pilot Project in response to economic uncertainty caused by trade tariffs and labour market disruption.

Here is what you need to know before these hidden rules disappear.

The Three Temporary EI Measures Explained

The federal government implemented three interconnected measures that fundamentally change how EI works for claims started before April 11, 2026.

Measure	Normal EI Rules	Temporary Rules (Until April 11, 2026)	Value
Waiting period	1 week unpaid	Completely waived	$729 saved
Severance treatment	Delays EI payments	No deduction from benefits	Thousands saved
Long-tenured worker benefits	Maximum 45 weeks	Up to 65 weeks (20 extra)	Up to $14,580 extra

These measures apply to all new EI claims that start within the eligible window, regardless of your industry or reason for job loss.

The temporary rules were extended through federal regulation SOR/2025-205, published in the Canada Gazette on October 22, 2025.

Measure 1: The Waiting Period Is Completely Waived

Normally, EI claimants must serve a one-week waiting period before receiving benefits.

This unpaid week means your first EI payment covers week two of unemployment, not week one.

How The Waiver Works

Under the temporary measure in effect until April 11, 2026, this waiting period is completely waived.

Scenario	Under Normal Rules	Under Temporary Rules
First week unemployed	$0 payment	Full weekly benefit paid
When first payment arrives	Week 3 of unemployment	Week 2 of unemployment
Total loss from waiting period	Up to $729	$0

At the current maximum weekly EI benefit of $729, skipping the waiting period puts $729 in your pocket that you would normally never receive.

Who The Waiver Applies To

The waiting period waiver applies to:

All new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026
All types of EI benefits (regular, sickness, maternity, parental, caregiving, compassionate care)
All regions of Canada
All industries and occupations

The One Exception

You may choose to serve the waiting period if it benefits you because of a top-up from a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan.

Some employer SUB plans require you to be on claim before top-up payments begin.

In these cases, serving the waiting period may actually maximize your total income.

Consult with your employer’s HR department if you have a SUB plan.

Measure 2: Severance Pay No Longer Reduces Your EI Benefits

Under normal EI rules, severance pay, vacation payouts, and pay-in-lieu-of-notice are considered “separation earnings.”

These separation earnings are allocated starting from your last day of work, delaying or reducing your EI benefits.

How Severance Normally Affects EI

Separation Payment	Normal Treatment	Example Impact
Severance (10 weeks)	Allocated over 10 weeks	EI delayed 10 weeks
Vacation payout (2 weeks)	Allocated over 2 weeks	EI delayed 2 weeks
Pay in lieu of notice (4 weeks)	Allocated over 4 weeks	EI delayed 4 weeks
Combined package (16 weeks)	Allocated over 16 weeks	EI delayed 16 weeks

Workers with generous severance packages could wait months before receiving any EI benefits.

How The Temporary Rules Change This

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.

Separation Payment	Temporary Treatment	Impact
Severance (any amount)	No allocation	Receive full amount + EI immediately
Vacation payout	No allocation	Receive full amount + EI immediately
Pay in lieu of notice	No allocation	Receive full amount + EI immediately
Combined package	No allocation	Receive full amount + EI immediately

You can receive your full severance lump sum and your weekly EI payments simultaneously.

Real Dollar Impact Examples

Example	Severance	Weekly EI	Normal Delay	Extra EI Under Temp Rules
Office worker	$15,000 (10 weeks)	$600	10 weeks	$6,000
Tech professional	$30,000 (15 weeks)	$729	15 weeks	$10,935
Senior manager	$50,000 (20 weeks)	$729	20 weeks	$14,580
Factory worker	$8,000 (6 weeks)	$550	6 weeks	$3,300

Workers receiving substantial severance packages could see thousands of dollars in additional EI benefits they would otherwise lose.

Measure 3: Long-Tenured Workers Get Up To 65 Weeks Of Benefits

A third temporary measure provides 20 additional weeks of regular EI benefits to qualifying long-tenured workers.

This brings the maximum possible benefit period from 45 weeks up to 65 weeks.

Qualifying As A Long-Tenured Worker

To qualify for the extended benefits, you must meet all of the following criteria:

Requirement	Details
Claim start date	Between June 15, 2025 and April 11, 2026
Recent EI usage	Fewer than 36 weeks of EI regular or fishing benefits in past 3 years
Premium payment history	Paid at least 30% of maximum annual EI premium in 7 of last 10 years

Understanding The Premium Payment Requirement

The 30% threshold is based on maximum annual EI premiums for each year.

Year	Maximum Premium	30% Threshold
2026	$1,123.07	$336.92
2025	$1,077.48	$323.24
2024	$1,049.12	$314.74
2023	$1,002.45	$300.74
2022	$952.74	$285.82

To meet the 7-of-10-years requirement, you need to have earned enough insurable income in most of the past decade.

This typically means steady employment history with limited gaps.

Value Of The Extended Weeks

Maximum Weekly Benefit	20 Extra Weeks Value
$729 (maximum)	$14,580
$600 (typical)	$12,000
$500 (lower earner)	$10,000
$400 (part-time)	$8,000

The extra 20 weeks can provide critical income support for older workers or those in specialized fields who need more time to find comparable employment.

Complete 2026 EI Payment Figures

If you file a claim in 2026, here are the current EI figures you need to know.

Key 2026 EI Numbers

Metric	2026 Amount	2025 Amount	Change
Maximum weekly benefit	$729	$695	+$34
Maximum insurable earnings	$68,900	$65,700	+$3,200
Employee premium rate	$1.63 per $100	$1.64 per $100	-$0.01
Maximum annual premium	$1,123.07	$1,077.48	+$45.59
Benefit rate	55% of earnings	55% of earnings	No change

How Your Weekly Benefit Is Calculated

Your actual weekly benefit equals 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the maximum.

Your Weekly Earnings	Calculation	Your Weekly Benefit
$800	$800 × 55%	$440
$1,000	$1,000 × 55%	$550
$1,200	$1,200 × 55%	$660
$1,326+	$1,326 × 55%	$729 (maximum)

To receive the maximum $729 weekly benefit, you need average weekly insurable earnings of approximately $1,326 or more.

Province-By-Province EI Requirements

EI eligibility varies by region based on local unemployment rates.

Higher unemployment regions require fewer hours to qualify but provide more weeks of benefits.

Ontario EI Requirements By Region

Economic Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available	2026 Unemployment Rate
Toronto	700	14-36	~7%
Ottawa	700	14-36	~6%
Hamilton-Niagara	665	15-38	~7%
London	630	16-40	~8%
Windsor	595	17-42	~9%
Northern Ontario	490-560	19-45	~10-12%
Sudbury	560	18-43	~9%
Thunder Bay	525	19-44	~10%

British Columbia EI Requirements

Economic Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Vancouver	700	14-36
Victoria	700	14-36
Abbotsford	665	15-38
Interior BC	595-630	17-42
Northern BC	490-560	19-45

Alberta EI Requirements

Economic Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Calgary	700	14-36
Edmonton	665	15-38
Central Alberta	630	16-40
Northern Alberta	560-595	17-43
Southern Alberta	630-665	15-40

Quebec EI Requirements

Economic Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Montreal	700	14-36
Quebec City	700	14-36
Gatineau	700	14-36
Eastern Quebec	490-560	18-45
Northern Quebec	420-490	21-45

Atlantic Canada EI Requirements

Atlantic provinces generally have higher unemployment rates and therefore lower hours requirements.

Province/Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Halifax	665	15-38
Rural Nova Scotia	490-560	19-45
New Brunswick (South)	595-630	17-42
New Brunswick (North)	490-525	20-45
PEI	490-560	19-45
Newfoundland (St. John’s)	630	16-40
Newfoundland (Rural)	420-490	22-45

Prairie Provinces EI Requirements

Province/Region	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Winnipeg	665	15-38
Rural Manitoba	560-595	17-43
Regina	665	15-38
Saskatoon	665	15-38
Rural Saskatchewan	525-595	17-44

Territories EI Requirements

Territory	Hours Required	Weeks Available
Yukon	560-630	16-43
Northwest Territories	525-595	17-44
Nunavut	490-560	19-45

The Critical April 11, 2026 Deadline

April 11, 2026 is the hard deadline for all three temporary measures.

Understanding the deadline precisely helps you plan if you have any control over your termination timing.

What Happens Based On Your Claim Start Date

If Your Claim Starts	Waiting Period	Severance Treatment	Long-Tenured Extended Weeks
Before April 11, 2026	Waived	No deduction	Available (if eligible)
On April 11, 2026	Waived	No deduction	Available (if eligible)
On April 12, 2026	1 week wait	Normal allocation	Not available
After April 12, 2026	1 week wait	Normal allocation	Not available

Dollar Value Difference By Scenario

Scenario	Before April 11	After April 11	Difference
Basic claim (no severance)	+$729 (no wait)	-$729 (wait)	$729
With $20,000 severance	+$729 + full severance + EI	-$729 + delayed EI	$10,000+
Long-tenured worker	Up to 65 weeks	Maximum 45 weeks	$14,580+
Combined maximum	$729 + $14,580 + full severance	Standard EI only	$15,000-30,000+

Workers anticipating job loss should consider timing carefully if possible.

Even a few days difference between late March and early April could affect thousands of dollars.

How To File Your Claim To Maximize Benefits

Apply for EI as soon as you stop working to establish your claim within the temporary measures window.

Step-By-Step Filing Process

Step	Action	Timeline
1	Stop working (last day of employment)	Day 0
2	Ensure ROE is issued by employer	Within 5 days
3	Apply online at Service Canada	Immediately
4	Complete bi-weekly reports	Starting week 3
5	Receive first payment	28 days typical

Required Information For Your Application

Document/Information	Where to Find It
Social Insurance Number	SIN card or tax documents
Record of Employment (ROE)	Employer issues electronically
Banking information	For direct deposit
Employment history (past 52 weeks)	Pay stubs or records
Reason for separation	ROE code

Where To Apply

Apply online through Service Canada for fastest processing.

Phone applications: 1-800-206-7218 (if online access unavailable)

In-person: Service Canada Centres (for complex situations)

The online system automatically detects whether your claim falls within the temporary measures window.

What Happens After April 11, 2026

Once the temporary measures expire, standard EI rules return immediately.

Rules Returning After April 11

Element	Returns To
Waiting period	1 week unpaid before benefits begin
Severance treatment	Allocated and delays/reduces benefits
Maximum weeks	45 weeks (regional formula)
Long-tenured benefits	Not available

Planning If You Expect Layoff After April 11

If you cannot control your termination timing, focus on what you can control:

Action	Purpose
Build emergency fund	Cover waiting period
Negotiate severance timing	May help with EI timing
Understand your weeks	Know your regional entitlement
Track hours worked	Ensure you meet hours requirement

Working While On EI: The 50-Cent Rule

The temporary measures do not change the Working While on Claim provisions.

You can work part-time while receiving EI and keep some of your benefits.

How Working While On Claim Works

If You Earn	You Keep	Example
$0	100% of EI benefit	$600 EI = $600 total
$100	EI benefit minus $50	$600 – $50 = $550 EI + $100 work = $650 total
$300	EI benefit minus $150	$600 – $150 = $450 EI + $300 work = $750 total
$540+ (90% of previous earnings)	$0 EI	Work income only

For every dollar you earn, you keep 50 cents of your EI benefit until you reach 90% of your previous weekly earnings.

This allows you to take part-time work while on claim without losing all benefits.

EI And Other Benefits: What Stacks

While receiving EI, you may also qualify for other support programs.

Federal Benefits Compatible With EI

Benefit	Compatible	Notes
GST/HST Credit	Yes	Income-tested, EI counts
Canada Groceries Benefit	Yes	Same as GST Credit
Canada Child Benefit	Yes	Income-tested
Canada Workers Benefit	No	Requires employment income
OAS/GIS (seniors)	Yes	EI counts as income

Provincial Benefits

Province	Program	Compatibility
Ontario	Ontario Works	May affect eligibility
Ontario	ODSP	May affect amount
BC	BC Employment Assistance	May affect eligibility
Alberta	Income Support	May affect eligibility
Quebec	Social Assistance	May affect eligibility

Contact your provincial social services office for specific information about how EI interacts with provincial programs.

These three EI rules may look minor on paper, but for many workers, they can directly affect how long benefits last, when claims end, and what options remain after April 2026.

That is why Canadians relying on EI or planning around a possible job loss should review the current rules now rather than waiting until the changes take effect.

As April approaches, understanding what is ending and how it could impact your claim may help you avoid costly surprises.

Staying informed early is the best way to protect your benefits and make better decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I choose to serve the waiting period even though it is waived?

Yes, if you have a top-up from a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit plan through your employer, serving the waiting period may be advantageous because your SUB payments may require you to be on claim before they begin, and in some cases the combined SUB top-up plus regular EI during the waiting period exceeds what you would receive from EI alone.

Do I need to apply separately for the 20 extra weeks for long-tenured workers?

No, Service Canada automatically assesses your file for long-tenured worker status when you apply, examining your premium payment history over the past 10 years and your EI usage over the past 3-5 years, and if you qualify based on these criteria, the extra weeks are added to your entitlement automatically without any additional application or request.

What if my employer issues my Record of Employment after April 11 but my last day of work was before?

Your claim start date is based on when you stopped working and applied for EI, not when your ROE is processed or received by Service Canada, so if you apply before April 11 and your last day of work was before that date, you should still qualify for the temporary measures even if administrative processing of your ROE occurs later.

Can I work part-time while receiving EI and still benefit from these temporary measures?

Yes, the Working While on Claim provisions remain in effect alongside the temporary measures, allowing you to keep 50 cents of your EI benefits for every dollar you earn from part-time work up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings, and this rule applies equally whether you filed under temporary or normal EI rules.

What happens if the government extends these measures again past April 11?

As of March 2026, no extension has been announced, and the current regulations published in the Canada Gazette specify April 11, 2026 as the end date for all three temporary measures, so workers should plan their decisions based on the current deadline rather than hoping for or assuming another extension will be announced.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. EI rules, deadlines, and eligibility criteria may change, and individual circumstances can affect how these measures apply. Readers should confirm all details through official Government of Canada and Service Canada sources before taking action.

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website