What is the maximum EI benefit in 2026?
The maximum EI regular benefit is $729 a week before tax in 2026, and $749 for claims starting in 2027. It is 55% of the maximum insurable earnings divided by 52.
| Claims starting in | Maximum insurable earnings | Weekly earnings counted, at most | Maximum EI a week | Hourly pay to reach it at 40 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,700 | $1,263.46 | $695 | $31.59 |
| 2026 | $68,900 | $1,325.00 | $729 | $33.13 |
| 2027 | $70,800 | $1,361.54 | $749 | $34.04 |
If you earned more than $1,263 a week in 2026, EI still counts only $1,263. So anyone who earned about $68,900 a year or more, steadily, gets the maximum. Low-income families with children who get the Canada Child Benefit can get up to 80% of their earnings through the family supplement.
The longest you can get regular benefits is 45 weeks, or 65 weeks for long-tenured workers on claims starting by June 12, 2027.
Common questions
What is the maximum EI benefit in 2026?
$729 a week before tax, for claims starting in 2026. Maximum insurable earnings are $68,900.
What is the maximum EI benefit in 2027?
$749 a week before tax, for claims starting in 2027. Maximum insurable earnings rise to $70,800.
What is the most weeks of EI I can get?
45 weeks of regular benefits, or up to 65 weeks for long-tenured workers on claims starting by June 12, 2027.
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.