Employment Insurance

You may be able to get Employment Insurance (EI) benefits if you lose your job.

There are different kinds of EI benefits. This resource is about regular benefits for people who are looking for work.

What types of EI benefits are there?

There are several kinds of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

This resource covers regular benefits for people who are looking for work. There are also:

• sickness benefits for people who are off work because they are ill or had an accident
• compassionate care benefits for people who are caring for or supporting someone who’s likely going to die in the next 6 months
• family caregiver benefits for people who are off work to care for a seriously ill family member or close friend
• maternity and parental benefits for people who are pregnant, have a new baby, or have adopted a child
• fishing benefits for self-employed fishers

Who can get EI benefits?

You may be able to get EI regular benefits if:

• it was not your fault that you lost your job, and
• you’re looking for work.

To decide if you can get benefits, Service Canada looks at the number of insurable hours you worked during your qualifying period.

Qualifying period

Your qualifying period is usually the last 52 weeks before the start of your claim. Sometimes your qualifying period can be longer.

For example, it could go back more than 52 weeks if during that time you were sick, injured, pregnant, or in jail.

Sometimes it can be shorter. For example, if you had another EI claim that started in that 52-week period, your qualifying period only goes back to the start of that claim.

Number of insurable hours

Your insurable hours are the total number of eligible hours you worked in your qualifying period. To get EI, you need a certain number of insurable hours.

The number of insurable hours you need depends on the unemployment rate where you live. If the unemployment rate is lower in your area, you need more hours. If it’s higher, you need fewer hours.

Usually, you need between 420 and 700 insurable hours. You will not get EI if you have less than 420 insurable hours.

If you give false or misleading information, Service Canada usually makes a note of this in your file. This is called a “violation”.

If you have a violation in your file in the last 5 years, you might need more insurable hours to get EI.

Not enough insurable hours

It can be hard to figure out the exact number of hours you worked during your qualifying period. Even if you think you might not have enough insurable hours, you should still apply.

You, your employer, or Service Canada may not agree about the number of hours. If this happens, any of you can ask the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to decide.

This is called a “CPP/EI ruling”. You may need to give the CRA documents to show how many hours you worked, such as your shift schedules or pay stubs.

For more information, go to to canada.ca/en and search for “CPP/EI ruling”. Or call 1-800-959-8281. For TTY, call 1-800-665-0354.

EI premiums

EI premiums are what workers and employers pay so that there’s money in the EI program.

When you earn money at your job, your employer must take off a small amount from your pay for EI premiums. Your employer must also pay EI premiums.

If your employer does not take off EI premiums

Sometimes, employers do not take off EI premiums from your pay, even if they’re supposed to.

This can happen because your employer says that you’re an independent contractor or self-employed. This can also make it harder to claim EI benefits if you lose your job.

If this happens, you can apply to the CRA for a “CPP/EI ruling”. The CRA decides if you were an employee or self-employed. Read more in Not enough insurable hours.

How do I apply for EI?

You need to fill out an application online. Or apply at a Service Canada Centre.

To apply online, go to canada.ca/en/services/benefits/apply-privacy.

If you’re not able to apply online or have trouble with the online form, contact Service Canada. Call 1-800-206-7218. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

When you apply, you need the following information for all of your jobs in the last 52 weeks:

• names and addresses of your employers
• dates you worked for them
• detailed reasons for why you left

You also need:

• your Social Insurance Number and another piece of identification, with your photo if possible,
• your banking information so your EI payments can go directly into your bank account,
• your mailing address, and
• the dates and what you were paid for each of your highest-paid weeks in your qualifying period. See more in How much will I get?

The full list of what you need is on the online application form.

Do I need my Record of Employment?

It’s easier to apply for EI if you have your Record of Employment (ROE). You will need an ROE for every employer you worked for in the past 12 months.

An ROE is a form from your employer that says how long you worked for them, how many hours you worked, and how much money you earned. And it says why you are no longer working for them.

Your employer must send the ROE. They can give you a paper copy, or send an online copy to Service Canada directly.

If your employer sends your ROE directly to Service Canada:

• they do not have to give you a copy, and
• you do not need a copy to apply for EI.

But you can get a copy from Service Canada if you want one.

You need a My Service Canada account to see your ROE online. Check your account or set one up at servicecanada.ca.

Even if you do not have your ROE yet, you should apply for EI as soon as you stop working. You need proof of your employment, such as pay stubs and T4 slips.

If you do not apply within 4 weeks after your employment ends, you will probably get fewer EI payments.

You can call or visit a Service Canada location if you’re having problems getting your ROE.

Call the Employment Insurance Telephone Information Service at 1-800-206-7218. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

Can I get EI if I quit my job?

You cannot get EI regular benefits unless you had “just cause”. This means that you had to quit because you had no other “reasonable” choice.

The law does not say what a reasonable choice is. Service Canada looks at your specific situation to decide if you had just cause.

If you do not return to work when you’re called back after a layoff, Service Canada sees this as quitting your job.

If you have a problem at work, Service Canada expects you to try to fix the problem before you quit. For example, if your employer is not paying you on time, you should first try to fix the problem by talking to them.

If the problem is so serious that it cannot be fixed, you might qualify for EI if you quit.

But it’s a good idea to start looking for another job before you quit. Keep a record of your job search.

Just cause for quitting

If you can prove that you had just cause for quitting your job, you can get EI. There are many situations that could be just cause for quitting.

Here are some examples:

You were discriminated against for one of the following reasons:

• your race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or religion
• your gender, sexual orientation, or sex, which includes discrimination because of pregnancy or childbirth
• your marital status or family status
• you have a disability
• your age
• you were convicted of a crime but have a pardon or record suspension
• you belong to a union

Your employer or supervisor:

• refuses to pay you for work you did
• forces you to work too much overtime
• harasses you, even after you ask them to stop
• did something that was against the law
• pressured you to leave your job
• expected you to work in dangerous conditions
• cut your wages significantly or made major changes to your duties

Even if one of the examples applies to you, that might not be enough to be just cause. And there could be other reasons for leaving that Service Canada will see as just cause.

It’s best to get legal advice before you quit your job if you want to claim EI benefits. See Where can I get help and information?

Can I get EI if I was fired?

It depends on why you were fired. If Service Canada says you were fired because of “misconduct”, they will not give you EI benefits.

Misconduct usually means doing something wrong on purpose. Misconduct is more than not being able to do the job well. Here are some examples that could be misconduct:

• threatening someone or being violent
• destroying company property on purpose
• being away from work without permission
• not obeying an order from your employer

Service Canada decides if you were fired for misconduct, not your employer. So you should apply for benefits, even if you were fired.

What happens if I apply after I quit or was fired?

When you apply, you have to answer questions on a special form if you quit or were fired.

If you quit, you have to say:

• why you quit
• if you tried to fix the problem at work before you quit
• if you tried to get other work before you quit

If you were fired, you have to say:

• why you were fired
• if your employer gave you any warnings
• if you tried to fix the problem

Once you have filled in the form, Service Canada may interview you. They may also contact your employer.

Service Canada could decide that you:

• quit without having just cause, or
• were fired for misconduct.

Being disqualified

If this happens, Service Canada will tell you in a letter that you cannot get EI regular benefits. This is called being “disqualified”.

The letter will also tell you that you have the right to ask them to reconsider their decision. This means asking them to review and change their decision.

You must ask for this in writing within 30 days of finding out about Service Canada’s decision. For more information, see How do I ask for a reconsideration?

Even if you cannot get EI regular benefits, you might still be able to get the special benefits that are listed on page Can I get special EI benefits if I have been disqualified?

Can I be disqualified for other reasons?

Service Canada can cut off your benefits for a period of time if they decide you did not do something you were supposed to do.

Service Canada will cut off your benefits for one to 6 weeks if:

• They gave you instructions about finding a new job. The instructions were reasonable and in writing and you did not follow them.
• They wanted you to go to meeting and you did not go.
• They sent you to a course or other activity and you quit, were told to leave, or did not go.

Service Canada will cut off your benefits for 7 to 12 weeks if:

• You do not accept a suitable job.
• You know about a suitable job but do not apply for it.

For more about what is a suitable job, see Do I have to take any job?

Service Canada must tell you in writing if you’re disqualified. They might send you a warning letter first. But they do not have to do this. Whatever happens, get legal help right away. See Where can I get help and information?

What happens if I apply for EI again after I’m disqualified?

You might not be able to get as many weeks of regular EI benefits when you make a new claim. Special benefits are not affected.

Check with Service Canada to see if you finished all of the weeks that you were disqualified for in your last claim. If not, you may have to finish those weeks before you can start getting EI regular benefits.

If you did not finish all the weeks that you were disqualified for, they will apply to a new EI claim if:

• you have less than 700 insurable hours since your last EI claim, and
• you were disqualified for a reason that happened in the last 2 years.

Are there other reasons why I might not get EI?

Service Canada can decide to cut off your benefits for other reasons. This is called being “disentitled” to benefits.

For example, this could happen if:

• you’re not available for work full-time, for example, you cannot work at all for medical reasons or you do not want to work certain hours,
• you’re not actively looking for work,
• you do not give Service Canada staff information they ask for, or
• you’re not working because there’s a strike or lockout.

And usually you’ll be disentitled to benefits if you’re outside of Canada. The chart on the next page has some examples of when this does not apply.

You can get your benefits started again if you prove that the reason why you were disentitled has stopped.

Can I get EI special benefits if I’m disqualified?

You might still be able to get special benefits even if you would not be able to get EI regular benefits. You might even be able to get them if you quit your job or were fired for misconduct.

EI special benefits include:

• sickness benefits for people who are off work because they are ill or had an accident
• compassionate care benefits for people who are caring for or supporting someone who’s likely going to die in the next 6 months
• family caregiver benefits for people who are off work to care for a seriously ill family member or close friend
• maternity and parental benefits for people who are pregnant, have a new baby, or have adopted a child

Read more about maternity and parental benefits in CLEO’s resource Taking time off work: For new and expecting parents.

How much will I get?

The amount that you get for EI benefits depends on your “average insurable earnings”. This is the average of the highest-paid weeks in your qualifying period.

The actual number of highest-paid weeks that Service Canada uses depends on the unemployment rate in your region. It will be between 14 and 22 weeks.

If you qualify for EI benefits, you will get 55% of your average insurable earnings, up to a maximum amount.

For 2026, the maximum amount is $729 a week. For 2025, the maximum amount was $695 a week. This amount usually changes every year in January.

EI benefits are taxable. This means that Service Canada takes income tax from your benefits.

What is the Family Supplement?

If you have children, you might be able to get more money through the Family Supplement. To qualify for the Family Supplement:

• you or your spouse or common-law partner must get the Canada child benefit (CCB), and
• your annual family income must be $25,921 or less.

If you get the Family Supplement, your EI benefits could go up to as much as 80% of what you were earning before getting EI. But the maximum amount still applies.

For 2026, the maximum amount is $729 a week. For 2025, the maximum amount was $695 a week. This amount usually changes every year in January.

If you and your spouse or common-law partner both get EI benefits at the same time, only one of you can get the Family Supplement.

Usually, it’s better if the person who gets less EI gets the Family Supplement.

How long can I get EI?

You can usually get regular benefits for between 14 and 45 weeks. But how many weeks you get also depends on:

• how many hours you worked in your qualifying period,
• the unemployment rate where you live, and
• if you get other EI benefits within the last 52 weeks.

If you get regular benefits and other EI benefits, the most you can get in total is usually 50 weeks in one year.

When will I get my first payment?

You do not get EI benefits for the first week after you make your claim. This is called the “waiting period”.

After the waiting period, it usually takes at least another 3 to 4 weeks before you get your first payment. And it may take much longer. But your first payment will include benefits going back to the second week.

If you earn any money after your job ends, you may have to wait longer for your EI benefits to start. For example, this includes vacation pay, termination pay, and severance pay. You should still apply right away.

If you earn any money during your waiting period, EI will take some or all of it from your first 3 weeks of benefits.

What do I have to do when getting EI?

While you’re getting EI, you must do all of the following:

• be ready to work and able to arrange child care when needed
• look for work and follow up on jobs that Service Canada tells you about
• send in reports every 2 weeks
• report any income that you get
• follow Service Canada’s instructions, for example, to show them a record of your job search, meet with them, or go to training programs

What’s a job search?

A job search includes:

• checking job ads like those in the Government of Canada’s Job Bank
• asking friends about work
• calling employers
• applying for work

Keep a record of your job search and follow up on any leads. Make notes about where you look and who you talk to. Keep copies of all job ads, letters, and applications.

What information do I have to report?

You must send a report to Service Canada for each week that you get benefits. In these reports, you must say if you:

• worked and, if you did, how much you earned
• received any other money
• were sick or injured
• were available for work each weekday

How do I report the information?

You can report this information online or by phone. If you cannot report in either of these ways, you can report by filling out special cards and mailing them.

Soon after you apply, you get a letter in the mail from Service Canada that says “Important Employment Insurance information for you” at the top.

This letter tells you when you must make your first report. It will also give you your access code. It has 4 numbers and is near the middle of the letter.

You need your access code to report online or by phone. The letter tells you how to use Service Canada’s reporting service.

Online

If you fill in your report online, follow the instructions carefully. After you answer each question, you must confirm your answer.

Once you finish your report, the system will confirm that your report was received. It will also tell you when to make your next report. Be sure to write down this date. You cannot make your next report before then.

Usually, you have to report every 2 weeks.

If you realize later that you made a mistake in your report, call 1-800-206-7218 and press “0”. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

Call as soon as possible during business hours.

By telephone

Call the telephone reporting service at 1-800-531-7555. When you use the service, you must answer several questions.

It’s important to answer each question correctly. After you answer each question, you must confirm that your answer is right.

When you finish your report, a message tells you when to make your next report. Be sure to write down this date. You cannot make your next report before then.

Usually, you have to report every 2 weeks.

Do not hang up the phone until you’re told that your report was successful. If you hang up before that, your report will probably not go through and you will have to start again.

If you realize later that you made a mistake in your report, call 1-800-206-7218 and press “0”. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

Call as soon as possible during business hours.

Earning money while getting EI

You can earn money. But half of what you earn is taken off your EI benefits.

This applies as long as you do not earn more than 90% of the “average insurable earnings” your benefit was based on. All of the money you earn above that 90% is taken off your benefits.

Average insurable earnings is the amount EI considers you were making before you lost your job. For more information, see How much will I get?

If your earnings are the same as, or more than, your average insurable earnings, you do not get any EI benefits that week.

Also, when you work a full work week, you do not get any benefits for that week. This applies no matter how little you earn.

You must report all of your earnings in your reports. If EI finds out that you are not reporting all of your earnings, the full amount you earned is taken off your benefits. You will probably get other penalties as well.

Report all your earnings

You must report all of your earnings in your reports. If EI finds out that you’re not reporting all of your earnings, the full amount you earned is taken off your benefits.

You will probably get other penalties as well. Read more in What happens if I give false information?

Do I have to take any job?

No, but you must apply for and accept any job that Service Canada thinks is suitable for you.

A job can be suitable if:

• you’re healthy enough and physically able to commute to work and do the job,
• the hours of work fit with your family duties or religious beliefs, and
• doing the work would not be against your religious or moral beliefs.

A job is not suitable if it’s available because of a strike or lockout.

If family duties affect the hours you can work, you must try to set things up so that you can take a job.

If you do not do this, Service Canada might cut off your benefits.

Looking for work

When you start your job search, you can look for a job that:

● is the type of work you usually do, and
● has similar pay and work conditions.

But if you do not find a job in what Service Canada says is a “reasonable” time, they can tell you to look for other types of jobs. This even includes jobs that pay less than you usually earn.

If I do not take a suitable job

Service Canada may cut off your benefits for 7 to 12 weeks if they decide that:

• you refused to take a job they thought was suitable, or
• you knew about a job but did not apply for it.

This means that you do not get any EI regular benefits for that period of time.

If you disagree with this, you can ask Service Canada to reconsider the decision.

This means that you’re asking them to review and change it. You must do this in writing within 30 days. For more information, see How to ask for a reconsideration?

If I take a job but get fired or quit

If you take a job while you’re getting EI and then quit without just cause, your benefits will be cut off. This applies even if the job was only part-time.

Just cause means you had to quit because you had no other reasonable choice. See Just cause for quitting.

For this reason, it can be a mistake to accept work that’s not suitable or that you cannot handle.

But if you refuse work that Service Canada thinks is suitable, you can be disqualified for 7 to 12 weeks. So it can be hard to know what’s the best thing to do.

Try to get help and advice before you decide. See Where can I get help and information?

Your EI will also be cut off if you take a job while you’re getting benefits and then get fired for misconduct.

But your EI benefits should not be cut off if:

• you lose the job for reasons that are not your fault, or
• your employer fires you because you were not able to do the job.

For more information about misconduct, see Can I get EI if I was fired?

If you’re cut off for any of these reasons, you can ask Service Canada to reconsider the decision. This means asking them to review and change it.

You must do this in writing within 30 days. See How to ask for a reconsideration?

What if I get more money than I should?

Getting money you were not supposed to get is called an “overpayment”. Here are some examples of when this can happen:

• Service Canada made a mistake when dealing with your claim.
• You or your employer made a mistake when giving information for your EI claim.
• You started getting benefits, but Service Canada got new information and decided that you should not have gotten EI during that time.
• You got money from your employer, such as termination or severance pay, after you started getting EI.

If you disagree

If you do not agree that you got too much money from EI, you can ask Service Canada to reconsider the decision. This means asking them to review and change it.

You must do this within 30 days of getting the decision. For more information, see How do I ask for a reconsideration?

Paying the money back

If you were not supposed to get the money, you will probably have to pay it back.

If you do not do this, there could be serious consequences. For example, you could be fined, need to work more hours to qualify for EI benefits in the future, or be charged with a crime.

If you cannot pay back the full amount right away, contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and ask to pay it over a period of time. Call 1-866-864-5841. For TTY, call 1-800-665-0354.

Not having to pay it back

Sometimes, Service Canada or the CRA can decide that you do not have to pay the money back. This is called “writing off” the overpayment.

For example, this could happen if you:

• did not make a mistake or give wrong information to Service Canada,
• would have a very hard time financially if you had to pay the money back, or
• got the money because:
  • your employer gave Service Canada wrong information, or
  • the government made a mistake.

Can I get CPP benefits or workers’ compensation?

To get Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits, you must not be able to work regularly.

But to get EI regular benefits, you must be ready and able to work. So you usually cannot get both.

It may be possible to get CPP retirement benefits and EI regular benefits at the same time. But the CPP amount will be taken off your EI benefits.

Workers’ compensation benefits

The rules are more complicated for workers’ compensation benefits. In Ontario, these benefits are called Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits.

It’s a good idea to apply for EI benefits, even if you’re also applying for WSIB benefits. But it’s important to tell the WSIB about any EI benefits you get.

Get legal help if you think you might qualify for both. See Where can I get help and information?

EI sickness benefits

If you’re getting or applying for EI sickness benefits, you can also apply for WSIB or CPP.

The rules for EI sickness benefits are not covered in this resource. But you can find out more at servicecanada.ca or by calling 1-800-206-7218. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

Can I get Ontario Works while I wait for EI?

You might be able to get benefits from Ontario Works (OW) while you wait for EI.

When you apply, OW will ask about your income and assets and why you’re unemployed. You may also have to prove that you have applied for EI.

Apply for OW as soon as you can. It can take a long time to find out about your EI application. So you might get OW for several weeks before you get EI.

When you apply

When you apply for OW, you must sign a form called Assignment of Benefits. This lets Service Canada pay OW back for the benefits you get while you’re waiting for your first EI payment.

It also makes sure that you do not get both kinds of benefits for the same period.

Amount of EI you get

Tell the OW office as soon as you get your first EI payment.

You might get less from EI than what you get from OW. If this happens, you might still be able to get some money from OW.

This means that you would still get the same amount in total each month as when you were getting OW on its own.

If OW refuses you

If OW refuses to give you benefits, contact your local community legal clinic for help. You must act quickly because there are strict and very short time limits to have OW review their decision.

What happens if I give false information?

It’s against the law to give Service Canada information that you know is misleading or not true. Some examples are:

• not telling Service Canada about all of your earnings
• lying about being available for work
• changing information on your Record of Employment

Penalties

Penalties for giving false or misleading information can be very serious. Here are some of the penalties you could get:

• You must pay back all of the EI money that you should not have received.
• For every false statement that Service Canada thinks you made, you might also have to pay as much as 3 times what you get each week from EI.
• You can be charged with committing a crime.

Violations

Service Canada can also give you a “violation”. Violations stay on your EI file for 5 years.

While a violation is on your file, you may have to work hundreds of extra hours before you can qualify for EI benefits again.

What can you do

If you get a penalty or violation, you have the right to ask Service Canada to reconsider. This means that you ask them to review and change the decision.

You must do this in writing within 30 days of being told about the decision.

What if I do not agree with a decision about EI?

You can appeal most decisions about your EI claim. The first step is to ask Service Canada for a “reconsideration” of the decision. This means that you ask them to review and change their decision. You can ask for a reconsideration if Service Canada:

• refuses to give you benefits
• gives you the wrong amount of benefits
• tells you to pay back some benefits
• gives you a penalty or sends you a warning letter

You must ask for the reconsideration in writing. Make sure Service Canada gets it within 30 days of when you got the decision.

If you miss this deadline, you can ask for an extension. But you must give a good reason for why you were late.

How to ask for a reconsideration?

You have to use a form called Request for Reconsideration. To get the form online, go to canada.ca. Type ins5210 in the search box. Or you can get a copy from a Service Canada Centre.

After you fill out and sign the form, take it to your local Service Canada Centre. Or mail it to Ontario’s regional Service Canada Centre at P.O. Box 2602, Mississauga, Ontario L4T 0B1.

What happens when I ask for a reconsideration?

Someone from Service Canada will contact you to talk about your EI claim. Give them any new information you have and explain why you think they should change the decision.

Service Canada might also contact your employer. This is more likely to happen if you did not get benefits because Service

Canada thinks you may have:

• quit your job, or
• been fired.

Read more about reconsiderations at canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-reconsideration.

What Service Canada can do

Service Canada will tell you their decision by phone or in a letter. They could:

• keep the original decision
• change the decision completely
• make some changes to the decision

What if I do not agree with what Service Canada decides?

The next step is to appeal to the Social Security Tribunal (SST). You cannot appeal to the SST unless you have gone through the reconsideration process first.

The SST website has a form called Notice of Appeal and information about how to start an appeal.

Read more at sst-tss.gc.ca/en/your-appeal. If you have questions, call the SST at 1-877-227-8577. For TTY, call 1-866-873-8381.

The SST must get your Notice of Appeal or letter no later than 30 days after you were told about the reconsideration decision. This could happen by phone or by letter.

Email the form to info.sst-tss@canada.gc.ca. Fax it to 1-855-814-4117. Or mail it to the Social Security Tribunal, P.O. Box 9812, Station T, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 6S3.

Where can I get help and information?

For more information and help with EI, contact your Member of Parliament (MP). Find your MP at ourcommons.ca/en.

For legal help and advice, contact your community legal clinic. To find the clinic nearest you, visit legalaid.on.ca/legal-clinics. Or call Legal Aid Ontario at 1-800-668-8258. For TTY, call 711.

You can contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218. For TTY, call 1-800-529-3742.

To find out if there are other other benefits you might be able to get, use the Government of Canada’s Benefits Finder. Visit benefitsfinder.gc.ca.

If you speak French

If you speak French

In many cases, you have the right to government services and legal actions in French. This includes hearings with French-speaking decision-makers.

Ask a lawyer or community legal clinic about your French-language rights.

Si vous parlez français

Il existe de nombreuses situations où vous avez droit à des services gouvernementaux et à des procédure judiciaires en français, comme la tenue d’une audience devant un décideur qui parle français.

Vous pouvez demander à des avocat(e)s ou à une clinique juridique communautaire de vous informer de vos droits liés au fait de parler français.

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January 2026