How many hours do you need for EI in South Central Ontario?
You need 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks to qualify for EI regular benefits in the South Central Ontario region, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026. That is because the region's unemployment rate is 5.4%.
- Unemployment rate
- 5.4%
- Hours needed
- 700
- Weeks of EI
- 14 to 36
- Best weeks used
- 22
With exactly 700 hours you would get 14 weeks of benefits. With 1,820 hours or more, 36 weeks. EI pays 55% of your average pay over your best 22 weeks, up to $729 a week.
Places in this EI region
Guelph, Woodstock, Stratford, Tillsonburg, Strathroy, Goderich, Ingersoll, Fergus, Listowel, New Hamburg, Melancthon, Mulmur, and other nearby communities. Not sure? Check your postal code with Service Canada.
How the hours needed changed in 2026
| Claims starting | Unemployment rate | Hours needed |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 11 to Feb 7 | 6.1% | 665 |
| Feb 8 to Mar 14 | 6.0% | 700 |
| Mar 15 to Apr 11 | 5.7% | 700 |
| Apr 12 to May 9 | 5.6% | 700 |
| May 10 to Jun 6 | 6.0% | 700 |
| Jun 7 to Jul 11 | 6.4% | 665 |
| Jul 12 to Aug 8 | 6.5% | 665 |
| Aug 9 to Sep 5 | 6.3% | 665 |
| Sep 6 to Oct 10 | 5.7% | 700 |
| Oct 11 to Nov 7 | 5.4% | 700 |
| Nov 8 to Dec 5 | 5.4% | 700 |
Rates are seasonally adjusted 3-month averages from Statistics Canada, published by Service Canada. The rate on the week your claim starts is the one that counts.
Common questions
How many hours do I need for EI in South Central Ontario?
700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026, when the South Central Ontario region's unemployment rate is 5.4%.
How many weeks of EI can I get in South Central Ontario?
From 14 weeks with 700 hours to 36 weeks with 1,820 hours or more, for claims starting November 8 to December 5, 2026.
How much does EI pay in South Central Ontario?
55% of your average weekly pay over your best 22 weeks, up to $729 a week in 2026.
Sources
Rules checked against Service Canada on November 14, 2026. Regional unemployment rates are for November 8 to December 5, 2026, from Service Canada's EI economic region pages. They change every month.
- EI regular benefits: eligibility, page dated October 15, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how much you could receive, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI temporary measures for major economic conditions, page dated October 6, 2026
- EI regular benefits: how to apply, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI regular benefits: while you are receiving benefits, page dated October 19, 2026
- EI and repayment of benefits at income tax time, page dated December 31, 2025
- Summary of the 2027 Actuarial Report on the EI premium rate, page dated September 17, 2026
- Employment Insurance Regulations, Schedule I (EI regions)
- Find your EI economic region by postal code
This is an estimate, not a decision by Service Canada. Only Service Canada can decide your claim. We do not save anything you enter.