Updated July 2026. Employment Insurance parameters reset every January, and 2026 brought changes to premium rates, maximum insurable earnings, and weekly benefit amounts — plus a set of temporary measures that were still active in the first part of the year.
2026 EI Numbers (Outside Quebec)
- Premium rate: $1.63 per $100 of insurable earnings (down slightly from $1.64 in 2025)
- Maximum insurable earnings: $68,900 (up from $65,700 in 2025)
- Maximum weekly benefit: $729 (up from $695 in 2025)
- Maximum annual employee premium: $1,123.07 (up from $1,077.48 in 2025)
The maximum weekly benefit and annual premium both went up even though the rate itself dropped slightly, because the higher maximum insurable earnings cap means more of your income counts toward both your premiums and your potential benefit.
Temporary Measures (Active Through April 11, 2026)
For claims starting between March 30, 2025 and April 11, 2026, two temporary measures applied:
- The standard one-week waiting period before benefits begin was waived
- Separation earnings (like severance pay) were not deducted from benefit amounts during this window
Eligible long-tenured workers could also qualify for up to 20 extra weeks of regular benefits during this period. These measures expired April 11, 2026 — if you’re filing a new claim after that date, expect the standard waiting period and separation-earnings deduction rules to apply again.
What This Means If You’re Filing a Claim
If you lost your job and are filing an EI claim, check whether your claim start date falls before or after April 11, 2026 — that determines whether the waived waiting period and severance protections still apply to you. Either way, the higher maximum insurable earnings for 2026 means your weekly benefit ceiling is higher than it was in 2025, provided your insurable earnings were high enough to hit the cap.
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada, Employment Insurance.
