EI regular benefits: How much you could receive

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

How much you could receive

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, 2021, the maximum yearly insurable earnings amount is $56,300. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $595 per week.

Note

If your claim starts between September 26, 2021 and November 20, 2021, you’ll receive at least $300 per week before taxes, but you could receive more.

How long you could receive EI regular benefits

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 5 additional weeks of benefits up to a maximum of 45 weeks.

Until September 24, 2022: Number of weeks of EI regular benefits payable Temporary

Number of hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period	< 6%	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%
420 to 454	14	14	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32
455 to 489	14	14	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32
490 to 524	14	14	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33
525 to 559	14	14	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33
560 to 594	14	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
595 to 629	14	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
630 to 664	14	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35
665 to 699	14	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 1014	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
1015 to 1049	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
1050 to 1084	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
1085 to 1119	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
1120 to 1154	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
1155 to 1189	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
1190 to 1224	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
1225 to 1259	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
1260 to 1294	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
1295 to 1329	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
1330 to 1364	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1365 to 1399	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1400 to 1434	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45
1435 to 1469	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45
1470 to 1504	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45
1505 to 1539	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45
1540 to 1574	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45
1575 to 1609	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45
1610 to 1644	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45
1645 to 1679	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45
1680 to 1714	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45
1715 to 1749	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45
1750 to 1784	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45
1785 to 1819	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1820 and more	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45	45

After September 24, 2022: Number of weeks of EI regular benefits payable

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 you may receive benefits doesn’t change if you move to another region after your benefit period begins.

Calculation of benefits

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.

**Number of Variable Best Weeks calculation rates**
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.

Family supplement

If your net family income doesn’t exceed $25,921 per year, you have children and 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.

Taxable EI benefits

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

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