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EI regular benefits: How much you could receive

How much you could receive

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

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You could get up to 55% of your earnings

We can't tell you exactly how much you'll receive before we process your application. For most people, the basic rate for calculating Employment Insurance (EI) benefits is 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. As of January 1, 2024, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $63,200. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $668 per week.

Insurable earnings include most of the different types of compensation from employment, such as wages, tips, bonuses and commissions. The Canada Revenue Agency determines what types of earnings are insurable.

You can get benefits for up to a maximum of 45 weeks

You can receive EI from 14 weeks up to a maximum of 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region at the time of filing your claim and the amount of insurable hours you've accumulated in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter.

Seasonal workers

If you’re a seasonal worker, you may be eligible for additional weeks of regular benefits, up to a maximum of 45 weeks.

Number of weeks of EI regular benefits payable by regional rate of unemployment
Number of hours of insurable employment 6% and less 6.1%
to
7.0% 		7.1%
to
8.0% 		8.1%
to
9.0% 		9.1%
to
10.0% 		10.1%
to
11.0% 		11.1%
to
12.0% 		12.1%
to
13.0% 		13.1%
to
14.0% 		14.1%
to
15.0% 		15.1%
to
16.0% 		16% and more
420 to 454 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 28 30 32
455 to 489 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 26 28 30 32
490 to 524 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 25 27 29 31 33
525 to 559 0 0 0 0 0 21 23 25 27 29 31 33
560 to 594 0 0 0 0 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
595 to 629 0 0 0 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34
630 to 664 0 0 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35
665 to 699 0 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35
700 to 734 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
735 to 769 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
770 to 804 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37
805 to 839 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37
840 to 874 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38
875 to 909 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38
910 to 944 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39
945 to 979 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39
980 to 1,014 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
1,015 to 1,049 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
1,050 to 1,084 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
1,085 to 1,119 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41
1,120 to 1,154 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
1,155 to 1,189 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
1,190 to 1,224 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
1,225 to 1,259 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43
1,260 to 1,294 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
1,295 to 1,329 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
1,330 to 1,364 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45
1,365 to 1,399 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45
1,400 to 1,434 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 45
1,435 to 1,469 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 45
1,470 to 1,504 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 45 45
1,505 to 1,539 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 45 45
1,540 to 1,574 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 45 45 45
1,575 to 1,609 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 45 45 45
1,610 to 1,644 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 45 45 45 45
1,645 to 1,679 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 45 45 45 45
1,680 to 1,714 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 45 45 45 45 45
1,715 to 1,749 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 45 45 45 45 45
1,750 to 1,784 34 36 38 40 42 44 45 45 45 45 45 45
1,785 to 1,819 35 37 39 41 43 45 45 45 45 45 45 45
1,820 and more 36 38 40 42 44 45 45 45 45 45 45 45

The number of weeks for which you may receive benefits doesn’t change if you move to another region after your benefit period begins.

How we calculate your weekly benefit amount

The amount of weekly benefits is calculated as follows:

  • we calculate your total insurable earnings for the required number of best weeks (the weeks that you earned the most money, including insurable tips and commissions) based on the information you provide and/or your record(s) of employment
  • we determine the divisor (number of best weeks) that corresponds to your regional rate of unemployment
  • we divide your total insurable earnings for your best weeks by your required number of best weeks
  • we then multiply the result by 55% to obtain the amount of your weekly benefits

In regions of Canada with the highest rates of unemployment, we’ll calculate using the best 14 weeks. In regions of Canada with the lowest rates of unemployment, we’ll use the best 22 weeks. In other regions, the number of weeks used to calculate benefits will be somewhere between 14 and 22, depending on the unemployment rate in those regions.

Calculation

  • Total insurable earnings for the required number of best weeks
  • divided by Required number of best weeks
  • times by 55 %
  • equals Weekly EI benefit (maximum $668)
Required number of best weeks by regional rate of unemployment
Regional rate of unemployment Required weeks
6% or less 22
6.1% to 7% 21
7.1% to 8% 20
8.1% to 9% 19
9.1% to 10% 18
10.1% to 11% 17
11.1% to 12% 16
12.1% to 13% 15
13.1% or more 14

To find out the rate of unemployment in your region, visit EI Program Characteristics.

Once the weekly benefit rate is established, it will remain unchanged over the life of your claim.

If your net family income is $25,921 or less

If your net family income doesn’t exceed $25,921 per year, you have children and you or your spouse receives the Canada Child Benefit, you’re considered a member of a low-income family. Therefore, you may be eligible to receive the EI family supplement.

The family supplement rate is based on:

  • your net family income up to a maximum of $25,921 per year
  • the number of children in the family and their ages

The family supplement may increase your benefit rate up to 80% of your average insurable earnings. If you and your spouse claim EI benefits at the same time, only 1 of you can receive the family supplement. It is generally better for the spouse with the lower benefit rate to receive the supplement.

As your income level rises, the Family Supplement gradually decreases, so that when the maximum income of $25,921 is reached no supplement is payable.

Taxes are deducted from EI payments

EI benefits are taxable, no matter what type of benefits you receive. Federal and provincial or territorial taxes, where applicable, will be deducted from your payment.

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