Canada Service MapMenu
Canada Service Map
Search services

Federal service · Benefits and money

Employment Insurance (EI) benefits: apply and report

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked

Short answer

Apply online for Employment Insurance (EI) as soon as you stop working, even before you get your record of employment. You need enough insurable hours (420 to 700, depending on where you live) and must have lost your job through no fault of your own. EI pays 55% of your average insurable earnings, up to $729 a week in 2026.

Who handles it

Service Canada (Employment and Social Development Canada)

Handles it everywhere in Canada.

Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

Who can apply

  • To get EI regular benefits you must have lost an insurable job through no fault of your own, be ready and able to work, and have gone at least 7 days in a row without work or pay in the last 52 weeks.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • You need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable work in the qualifying period, usually the last 52 weeks. The number depends on the unemployment rate in your region.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Steps

  1. Apply online right away. If you wait more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. The online form takes about an hour, and you can send documents after you apply.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

What you need

  • Have your social insurance number, your addresses, your bank details for direct deposit, and the names, addresses, dates and reason for leaving for every job in the past 52 weeks. Service Canada also needs a record of employment from each employer.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How much you get

  • For most people, EI pays 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum. A family supplement can raise this for some low-income families with children.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • For 2026: from January 1, 2026, maximum yearly insurable earnings are $68,900, so the most you can get is $729 a week. EI payments are taxable.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

How long it takes

  • Service Canada aims to give you a decision within 28 days of applying, and meets that target 80% of the time. Missing records of employment or documents slow it down.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

  • If you are eligible and sent everything needed, your first payment comes about 28 days after you apply. Payments are only made after your reports are processed.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Good to know

  • You must send a report online or by phone every 2 weeks to keep getting paid. You need the four-digit access code mailed to you after you apply.

    Source: canada.cachecked #

Questions people ask

How many weeks of EI can I get?

Between 14 and 45 weeks of regular benefits, depending on your region's unemployment rate and how many insurable hours you worked. Moving to another region after your claim starts does not change the number of weeks.

Source: canada.cachecked #

How many hours do I need to qualify for EI?

Usually between 420 and 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks. Regions with higher unemployment need fewer hours. You can look up your region's rate and hours by postal code on Canada.ca. More hours are needed if you had a past EI violation.

Source: canada.cachecked #

How long does it take to get an EI decision?

Service Canada's standard is a decision within 28 days of applying, met 80% of the time. Make sure your employers have issued your records of employment and that you send your reports to avoid delays.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Can I get EI if I quit my job?

Usually not if you left without just cause, or if you lost the job because of your own misconduct. Service Canada still encourages you to apply as soon as possible and let it decide whether you are eligible.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Is EI taxable?

Yes. All EI benefits are taxable, and federal and provincial or territorial tax is deducted from your payments.

Source: canada.cachecked #

Where to go in person

Places in the biggest cities, from open data. Check the official link for hours and what each office offers before you go.

Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Employment Insurance (EI) benefits: apply and report", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-insurance