EI Benefits Calculator (2026)
Estimate your weekly Employment Insurance benefit — 55% of your average insurable earnings, up to $695/week — and check the hours you need to qualify in your region.
Enter Details
Salaried? Divide annual salary by 52.
Not sure? Most large cities sit in the 5–8% range. Service Canada shows your region's rate when you apply.
Full-time is roughly 35–40 hours × weeks worked.
Your EI Estimate
Enter your average weekly earnings
How Are EI Benefits Calculated?
In short: EI pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, capped at $695 per week in 2026 (maximum insurable earnings of $65,700). Your average comes from your highest-paid 14–22 "best weeks" in the last 52 — fewer weeks are used where regional unemployment is higher, which raises the average for anyone with variable earnings. To qualify at all you need enough insurable hours for your region:
| Regional unemployment rate | Hours needed to qualify | Best weeks used |
|---|---|---|
| 6% or less | 700 hours | 22 weeks |
| 6.1% – 7% | 665 hours | 21 weeks |
| 7.1% – 8% | 630 hours | 20 weeks |
| 8.1% – 9% | 600 hours | 19 weeks |
| 9.1% – 10% | 560 hours | 18 weeks |
| 10.1% – 11% | 525 hours | 17 weeks |
| 11.1% – 12% | 490 hours | 16 weeks |
| 12.1% – 13% | 455 hours | 15 weeks |
| More than 13% | 420 hours | 14 weeks |
General information, not advice — special benefits (maternity, parental, sickness) need 600 hours, and duration (14–45 weeks) depends on your exact hours and regional rate. Apply through Service Canada within 4 weeks of your last day even if severance is still being paid out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Restructuring Means Repetitive HR Work
We build AI workflows that draft ROEs, termination letters, and policy answers for Canadian businesses — so HR handles the human part.