Employment Insurance: the official figures for 2026

These are all the figures of the ei block of the data file: 21 loose figures and five tables with 85 rows, each with the statute it comes from, when it took effect and how far it has been verified.

Updated September 6, 2026 · Figures verified against the statutes of each jurisdiction · see all figures and their sources

It is part of official figures, the full registry of the site. The raw data is in legal-data-2026.json. If you find a figure that is wrong, tell us.

Verified: Read in the primary source: the consolidated text of the statute or regulation itself.
Secondary source: The rule and the starting figures are official, but the resolved figure is not published by any authority: we work it out and show the arithmetic.
Not yet verified: We have not been able to confirm it against the primary source yet. It appears here for transparency and is not published as a firm figure on any other page of the site: the production build stops if anyone tries.

`ei`

Figures in `ei`
Key	Value	Source	Validity	Status
`parameters.benefit_rate_percent` Regular benefits are paid at 55% of average weekly insurable earnings, up to the weekly maximum.	55%	Employment Insurance Act, s. 14 - Rate of weekly benefits and best weeks	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.max_insurable_earnings` Earnings above this ceiling are neither insured nor counted when the weekly benefit is worked out. The ceiling was $65,700 in 2025.	$68,900.00 per year	Employment Insurance - Important notice about maximum insurable earnings for 2026	2026-01-01 – 2026-12-31	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.max_weekly_benefit` The most any claimant can be paid in a week of regular benefits in 2026, before the family supplement. It was $695 in 2025.	$729.00 per week	Employment Insurance - Important notice about maximum insurable earnings for 2026	2026-01-01 – 2026-12-31	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.waiting_period` One unpaid week at the start of a claim, like a deductible. A temporary measure waives it for benefit periods that begin on or before 10 October 2026: see ei.parameters.temporary_measures.waiting_period_waived.	1 week	Employment Insurance Act, s. 13 - Waiting period	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.qualifying_period` The window whose insurable hours are counted: normally the 52 weeks before the claim, or the time since the last claim, whichever is shorter.	52 weeks	Employment Insurance Act, s. 8 - Qualifying period	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.hours_min` The lowest requirement anywhere in Canada: 420 insurable hours, in a region where unemployment is above 13%.	420 hours	Employment Insurance Act, s. 7 - Qualification requirement (hours by regional rate)	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.hours_max` The highest requirement: 700 insurable hours, in a region where unemployment is 6% or under.	700 hours	Employment Insurance Act, s. 7 - Qualification requirement (hours by regional rate)	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.weeks_min` The shortest run of regular benefits Schedule I produces: 14 weeks, for someone with just enough hours in a region at 6% unemployment or under.	14 weeks	Employment Insurance Act, Schedule I - Table of Weeks of Benefits	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.weeks_max` The longest run of regular benefits Schedule I produces. A temporary measure can add 20 weeks on top of it for long-tenured workers until 10 October 2026.	45 weeks	Employment Insurance Act, Schedule I - Table of Weeks of Benefits	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.best_weeks_min` In the regions with the highest unemployment, the weekly benefit is worked out over the 14 best-paid weeks.	14	Employment Insurance Act, s. 14 - Rate of weekly benefits and best weeks	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.best_weeks_max` In the regions with the lowest unemployment, the weekly benefit is worked out over the 22 best-paid weeks, so weak weeks drag the average down further.	22	Employment Insurance Act, s. 14 - Rate of weekly benefits and best weeks	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.premium_rate_employee` $1.63 for every $100 of insurable earnings, outside Quebec. Employers pay 1.4 times that, $2.28 per $100.	1.63%	Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets the 2026 Employment Insurance premium rate	2026-01-01 – 2026-12-31	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.premium_rate_quebec` Workers in Quebec pay a lower EI rate, $1.30 per $100, because the province runs its own parental insurance plan; their maximum for 2026 is $895.70, and their employers pay $1.82 per $100.	1.3%	Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets the 2026 Employment Insurance premium rate	2026-01-01 – 2026-12-31	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.max_annual_premium_employee` The most an employee outside Quebec pays in EI premiums in 2026, once earnings reach the ceiling.	$1,123.07 (1.63% × $68,900.00 per year, our own calculation)	Canada Employment Insurance Commission sets the 2026 Employment Insurance premium rate	2026-01-01 – 2026-12-31	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.family_supplement_max_percent` A claimant with children in a low-income family can be paid up to 80% of average weekly insurable earnings instead of 55% - still capped at the weekly maximum.	80%	Employment Insurance Act, s. 16 - Rate increase, family supplement	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.family_supplement_income_ceiling` Net family income limit for the family supplement. Above it there is no supplement; the closer the income is to it, the smaller the supplement.	$25,921.00	Employment Insurance Regulations, s. 34 - Family supplement, rate increase	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.apply_within` Apply within four weeks of the last day worked. Applying later can cost weeks of benefits, and waiting for a record of employment or for severance to run out is not a reason to delay.	4 weeks	EI regular benefits: how to apply	—	Secondary source Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.roe_deadline.paper_days` Paper record of employment: five days, counted from the later of the first day without earnings and the day the employer became aware of it.	5 days	Employment Insurance Regulations, s. 19 - Record of employment	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.roe_deadline.electronic_days_after_pay_period` Electronic record of employment: five days after the end of the pay period in which the job ended.	5 days	Employment Insurance Regulations, s. 19 - Record of employment	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.roe_deadline.electronic_days_infrequent_payroll` Where the employer pays monthly or less often (13 or fewer pay periods a year), the electronic record is due 15 days after the first day without earnings, if that comes first.	15 days	Employment Insurance Regulations, s. 19 - Record of employment	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06
`parameters.benefit_period_length` The window in which the weeks of benefits must be drawn: 52 weeks from the Sunday of the week the job ended or the week the claim was made, whichever is later. It is not the number of weeks payable - that comes from Schedule I - and unused weeks are lost when it closes.	52 weeks	Employment Insurance Act, s. 10 - Benefit period and late initial claims	—	Verified Reviewed 2026-09-06

Table `parameters.quit_just_cause_circumstances.items`
`paragraph`	`text`
29(c)(i)	sexual or other harassment
29(c)(ii)	having to move with a spouse, common-law partner or dependent child to another residence
29(c)(iii)	discrimination on a prohibited ground under the Canadian Human Rights Act
29(c)(iv)	working conditions that are a danger to health or safety
29(c)(v)	having to care for a child or a member of the immediate family
29(c)(vi)	reasonable assurance of another job in the immediate future
29(c)(vii)	a significant change to the terms about wages or salary
29(c)(viii)	excessive overtime, or the employer refusing to pay for overtime
29(c)(ix)	significant changes in work duties
29(c)(x)	antagonism with a supervisor, where the claimant is not mainly responsible for it
29(c)(xi)	employer practices that are contrary to law
29(c)(xii)	discrimination in employment because of membership in a workers' association, organization or union
29(c)(xiii)	undue pressure from the employer to leave the job
29(c)(xiv)	any other reasonable circumstances that are prescribed

Source: Employment Insurance Act, s. 29 - Just cause for voluntarily leaving. Reviewed on September 6, 2026.

Table `hours_by_rate.rows`
`rate_from`	`rate_to`	`hours`
0	6	700 hours
6	7	665 hours
7	8	630 hours
8	9	595 hours
9	10	560 hours
10	11	525 hours
11	12	490 hours
12	13	455 hours
13	—	420 hours

Source: Employment Insurance Act, s. 7 - Qualification requirement (hours by regional rate). Reviewed on September 6, 2026.

Table `best_weeks_by_rate.rows`
`rate_from`	`rate_to`	`weeks`
0	6	22 weeks
6	7	21 weeks
7	8	20 weeks
8	9	19 weeks
9	10	18 weeks
10	11	17 weeks
11	12	16 weeks
12	13	15 weeks
13	—	14 weeks

Source: Employment Insurance Act, s. 14 - Rate of weekly benefits and best weeks. Reviewed on September 6, 2026.

Table `weeks_schedule.rate_bands`
`from`	`to`
0	6
6	7
7	8
8	9
9	10
10	11
11	12
12	13
13	14
14	15
15	16
16	—

Source: Employment Insurance Act, Schedule I - Table of Weeks of Benefits. Reviewed on September 6, 2026.

Table `weeks_schedule.rows`
`hours_from`	`hours_to`	`weeks`
420 hours	454 hours	null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, 26, 28, 30 and 32 weeks
455 hours	489 hours	null, null, null, null, null, null, null, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 weeks
490 hours	524 hours	null, null, null, null, null, null, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and 33 weeks
525 hours	559 hours	null, null, null, null, null, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and 33 weeks
560 hours	594 hours	null, null, null, null, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 weeks
595 hours	629 hours	null, null, null, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 weeks
630 hours	664 hours	null, null, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 weeks
665 hours	699 hours	null, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 weeks
700 hours	734 hours	14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 weeks
735 hours	769 hours	14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 weeks
770 hours	804 hours	15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35 and 37 weeks
805 hours	839 hours	15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35 and 37 weeks
840 hours	874 hours	16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 weeks
875 hours	909 hours	16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 weeks
910 hours	944 hours	17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39 weeks
945 hours	979 hours	17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39 weeks
980 hours	1,014 hours	18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks
1,015 hours	1,049 hours	18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks
1,050 hours	1,084 hours	19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 and 41 weeks
1,085 hours	1,119 hours	19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 and 41 weeks
1,120 hours	1,154 hours	20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 weeks
1,155 hours	1,189 hours	20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 weeks
1,190 hours	1,224 hours	21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43 weeks
1,225 hours	1,259 hours	21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 and 43 weeks
1,260 hours	1,294 hours	22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44 weeks
1,295 hours	1,329 hours	22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44 weeks
1,330 hours	1,364 hours	23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 and 45 weeks
1,365 hours	1,399 hours	23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 and 45 weeks
1,400 hours	1,434 hours	24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 45 weeks
1,435 hours	1,469 hours	25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45 and 45 weeks
1,470 hours	1,504 hours	26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45 and 45 weeks
1,505 hours	1,539 hours	27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,540 hours	1,574 hours	28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,575 hours	1,609 hours	29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,610 hours	1,644 hours	30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,645 hours	1,679 hours	31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,680 hours	1,714 hours	32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,715 hours	1,749 hours	33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,750 hours	1,784 hours	34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,785 hours	1,819 hours	35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks
1,820 hours	—	36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45, 45 and 45 weeks

Source: Employment Insurance Act, Schedule I - Table of Weeks of Benefits. Reviewed on September 6, 2026.