Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial support to eligible Canadians who are unemployed or unable to work due to specific life events. In 2025, benefits cover up to 55% of your insurable earnings, to a maximum of $668 per week. You must apply promptly and submit bi-weekly reports to stay eligible.
If you've recently lost your job or are unable to work due to specific life events, Employment Insurance (EI) can provide temporary financial assistance.
This guide offers updated information on EI benefits, eligibility, application procedures, and recent changes effective in 2025.
Employment Insurance (EI) is an unemployment insurance program in Canada. It allows Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents (PR) who have recently lost their job to receive financial assistance. Although this assistance is temporary, it's beneficial while these people are looking for new jobs.
The EI provides relief and is a vital replacement for primary income for several categories of workers, such as:
Person who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 and/or calamities
Person who can’t work due to sickness or injury
Person who can’t work due to pregnancy
Person who took leave to care for a newborn or adopted child
Person with a critical illness
Person who are a caregiver for a critically ill family member
Person who were employed in insurable employment
Person who haven’t had a salary for 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks
Person who can prove they’ve been actively seeking work
In fact, EI also provides services to help unemployed individuals find a new job.
Employment insurance can also apply to individuals who aren't able to work because of a personal or family illness. It can also apply to those who are caring for young children at home.
How Much Does EI Pay per Month?
In general, employment insurance will pay you 55% of your weekly earnings each week. However, there is a maximum.
Currently, the maximum yearly payout is CA$65,700. This comes out to CA$695 per week.
How Long Does EI Last?
You can receive employment insurance payments between 14 and 45 weeks. This depends on several factors:
Why you've applied for employment insurance
What the unemployment rates in your area are
The amount of time that you've worked within the past 52 weeks
The amount of time since you last claimed employment insurance
If you're unsure how long you'll have benefits, you can talk to an accountant. Or, you can wait until you receive word after applying for employment insurance.
How to Apply for EI?
If you've lost your job, you should apply for employment insurance right away. You don't have to wait for your Record of Employment (ROI) letter to do this.
You have until four weeks from the date of your termination to apply for benefits. The longer you wait, the longer you'll go without EI payments.
If you're signing up to receive EI benefits, you can do so online or in person. Before you start the application process, you should gather the following information:
Your SIN
Your mother's maiden name
Your mail address
Your residential address
Your banking information in order to sign up for the direct deposit option
Information about all employers that you've had for the past 52 weeks
If you quit any job in the past 52 weeks
If you were fired from any job in the past 52 weeks
The dates and earnings for each of the highest-paid weeks in the last 52 weeks
How Do I Apply for EI Online?
Luckily, the application for employment insurance is online. So, you can fill out all of the necessary information in the comfort of your own home.
You should note that the process takes about an hour to complete. And, the Service Canada website gives you step-by-step instructions along the way. So, you'll know how to fill out every part of the form as you go.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218.
What Are the Requirements for EI?
In order to qualify for employment insurance in Canada, you must meet a few requirements. The online application will address these as you're filling it in.
First, you must have worked the required number of hours for your area. Usually, this lies between 420 and 700 hours per year. But, you can check the unemployment rate in your area to find out the right number of hours.
You must also have made payments into the EI program. Normally, your employer deducts these from your paycheque automatically.
At the time of your application, you must have been without employment or pay for seven days in a row.
If you meet all of these criteria, then you are eligible to receive employment insurance payments.
What Makes Me Ineligible for Canadian Employment Insurance?
On the other hand, there may be a few reasons that could be keeping you from receiving these payments. Here are some of the most common reasons for being ineligible for employment insurance payments:
You quit without a good reason
Your employer fired you for a good reason
You have not worked for the amount of time required in your area
You have not paid into the EI program
For those first two criteria, it's important that you make your case. The EI application will ask about the circumstances involving your quitting or your employer firing you. There, you can convince them that you quit for a good reason or were fired for a poor reason.
EI Reporting Online and Login
Before we dig deeper on the procedures about Employment Insurance reporting let discuss first what it is.
EI Reporting is the step that the government required for all active Employment Insurance claimants for them to continue receiving the benefits. While you're receiving employment insurance payments, you have to report every two weeks (or bi-weekly). This is to determine whether or not you're still eligible for employment insurance benefits.
If you remain eligible, you will keep receiving payments like before. If not, your benefits will stop.
For each week of the report you need to do the following:
Record dates and hours that you worked
Record earnings before deductions
Provide contact information for employers
Enter hours spent at school or in a training course
Indicate whether you were available for work
Report other money earned during the time period
We recommend keeping track of this information as you go. It's easier than trying to remember days or even weeks later.
How to Submit Reports
When you initially applied for benefits, Service Canada mailed you a benefit statement. This gave you a four-digit access code. In order to submit your reports, you'll need this code as well as your social insurance number (SIN).
If you're without Internet service or you'd rather speak with a real person, you can call the Telephone Reporting Service at 1-800-531-7555.
You can process your report over the phone using that number. And, if they need more information like your banking details, they'll work with you to help you out.
How Do I Check My EI Status?
If you're filling out your reports as you should, you shouldn't run into any problems. But, there may come a point when you don't qualify for benefits anymore.
If you want to check your EI status to see whether or not you're still receiving benefits, you can go to your My Service Canada account. There, you can look at your claim, update information as needed, and register for the direct deposit of EI funds.
If you're ever unsure about your EI status, this is the place to go.
How Long Does EI Last?
EI benefits can last anywhere from 14 to 45 weeks. But, this could be cut shorter if you're no longer eligible for benefits.
You should continue to fill out your reports and check your My Service Canada account regularly. This will ensure that you're getting the benefits that you are entitled to.
Does EI Stop Automatically?
Based on your reports, the government will decide whether or not you'll continue getting benefits. If you're still eligible, you'll still receive payments. If you're not eligible anymore, the payments will automatically stop.
If you fail to fill out your reports, the government will assume that you're no longer eligible. In turn, they'll stop sending payments.
Can I Extend My EI Benefits?
You may be eligible for an extension of the benefit period. However, this extension does not change the total number of weeks that you are paid.
Here are some common reasons that people may ask for an extension of benefits:
They were confined in prison or a similar institution
They were in receipt of earnings because of severance from their employer
They were in receipt of workers compensation due to injury or illness
If you believe that you deserve an extension of benefits, you should contact the employment insurance program.
How Do I Know How Long My EI Will Last?
In order to find out how long your employment insurance benefits will last, you need to apply for them first. Per their calculation, the government can decide how long you should receive these payments for.
This calculation is based on your past employment history and the unemployment rate in your area.
The best thing you can do is be as truthful as possible in filling out the application. The more information they have, the better.
2025 EI Premium Rates and Maximums
As of January 1, 2025, Employment Insurance (EI) premium rates in Canada have been updated to reflect changes in insurable earnings and national wage trends. These rates determine how much employees and employers must contribute to the EI program throughout the year.
How EI Premiums Work
EI premiums are automatically deducted from an employee’s paycheck and matched by the employer at a higher rate. Contributions are calculated based on a fixed percentage of insurable earnings—income such as salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, and most other taxable employment income—up to an annual maximum.
Once your income exceeds the EI maximum insurable earnings threshold for the year, no additional EI contributions are deducted for the rest of that year.
2025 EI Premium Rates
Category
Contribution Rate
Maximum Insurable Earnings
Maximum Annual Contribution
Employees (Federal)
1.64%
$65,700
$1,077.48
Employers (Federal)
2.30%
$65,700
$1,508.47
Employees (Quebec)
1.31%
$65,700
$860.67
Employers (Quebec)
1.83%
$65,700
$1,204.94
Notes:
Employers contribute 1.4 times the employee premium.
Quebec residents pay lower EI premiums because Quebec administers its own Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), which replaces federal maternity and parental EI benefits.
These rates apply to all employers and employees who contribute to the federal or Quebec EI programs.
Why It Matters
Understanding your EI premiums is important because:
It helps you calculate take-home pay more accurately.
Knowing the maximum contribution can inform year-end tax planning.
It ensures compliance for employers when setting up payroll systems.
FAQs About EI in Canada
Employment Insurance (EI) can be confusing, especially with changing rules and updates each year. To help you better understand how EI works in 2025, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions Canadians have about applying for and receiving EI benefits.
You can apply for EI online through the Government of Canada website or in person at a Service Canada Centre. It’s important to apply as soon as your employment ends to avoid delays or missed payments.
Typically, the first payment is issued within 28 days of applying. However, delays can occur if your application is incomplete or your employer has not submitted your Record of Employment (ROE) on time.
You generally need between 420 and 700 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks, depending on the regional unemployment rate and type of EI benefit you’re applying for.
es, but you must report your earnings. Under the Working While on Claim program, you can keep part of your EI while earning income, though it may reduce your benefit amount.
Getting Financial Resources in Order
Depending on your personal situation, you may or may not be eligible to receive employment insurance benefits. Getting EI benefits will help you get back on your feet. But, unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for them if they don't meet the eligibility criteria. So make sure you follow our guide to clarify your situation.
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) website
Important Notice:
All interest rates, fees, and other numerical figures displayed on our website are subject to change without prior notice. To ensure you have the most current information and/or promotion, please visit the provider's official website.
