Service Canada’s temporary Employment Insurance (EI) measures that were introduced to support workers during major economic disruption are scheduled to end on April 11, 2026. If you start a new EI claim after that date, the standard EI rules are expected to apply again.
The Government of Canada summarizes these temporary measures on its official EI page, including the eligibility windows and end date: Temporary Employment Insurance measures for major economic conditions (Government of Canada).
1) The 1-week EI waiting period is waived (until April 11, 2026)
Normally, EI has a one-week waiting period (an unpaid week) before benefits begin. Under the temporary measure, Service Canada states the waiting period is waived for new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026.
- Official summary: Waiving the waiting period (Government of Canada)
- Legal/regulatory reference in the EI Regulations: Employment Insurance Regulations (Justice Laws)
Important exception: Service Canada notes some people may choose to serve the waiting period if it helps them because of a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) top-up plan from an employer.
2) Severance and other separation payments are not deducted for some claims (until April 11, 2026)
Under standard EI rules, certain payments received due to separation from employment (for example, severance, vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice) may be treated as earnings and allocated, which can delay EI payments.
During the temporary measure period, the Government of Canada explains that earnings paid or payable because of a lay-off or separation do not count as earnings for EI purposes if the claim starts (or the allocation starts) between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026.
- Official summary: Suspending the rules on separation payments (Government of Canada)
- Regulatory reference (Justice Laws): Employment Insurance Regulations (section 77.997)
3) Some long-tenured workers may receive up to 20 extra weeks (maximum 65 weeks)
A separate temporary measure can provide up to 20 additional weeks of regular EI benefits for some “long-tenured workers,” bringing the maximum to 65 weeks for eligible claims that start between June 15, 2025 and April 11, 2026.
- Government summary: Temporary measure for long-tenured workers (Government of Canada)
- Service Canada policy guidance (Digest reference): EI Digest: benefit period structure (temporary long-tenured measure)
This measure has specific eligibility criteria (including prior EI usage and contribution history), so not every worker will qualify even if their claim is within the date window.
The April 11, 2026 deadline
These temporary EI measures are tied to when your EI claim starts (and for severance treatment, also when allocation starts). If your claim starts after April 11, 2026, Service Canada indicates the temporary measures end and the standard rules return.
For the regulation reference that extended measures to April 11, 2026, see the Canada Gazette publication: Canada Gazette: Regulations Amending the Employment Insurance Regulations (SOR/2025-205).
FAQ
Do these EI temporary rules apply to every type of EI benefit?
Service Canada’s temporary waiting period waiver is described as applying to new claims within the stated window, and the government’s EI page explains the measures and where they apply. Always confirm your benefit type and claim dates using the official page: Temporary EI measures (Government of Canada).
If I receive severance, will EI still be delayed?
Under the temporary measure, separation earnings are not treated as earnings for EI purposes if the benefit period or allocation starts within the March 30, 2025 to April 11, 2026 window. Details are on the official government summary page: Separation payment measure (Government of Canada).
How do I know if I qualify as a “long-tenured worker” for up to 65 weeks?
Eligibility is not automatic for everyone. Service Canada explains the measure and references the criteria in its EI guidance: Long-tenured worker measure (Government of Canada).
Where do I apply for EI?
You can apply through Service Canada’s EI page: Apply for Employment Insurance (Service Canada).
Reality check
These temporary EI measures can affect how quickly benefits start and how certain separation payments are treated, but they do not change the basic EI requirement to qualify based on insured hours and your situation. If you expect a job interruption, the safest approach is to rely on the official Government of Canada EI pages above, apply as soon as you stop working, and keep copies of your Record of Employment and key dates. Rules can also change through new regulations, so always verify the current version on official sources before making financial decisions.
