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Maximum EI Payment: How Much EI Can You Get a Week?

Updated

The most Employment Insurance (EI) pays is $729 a week for a claim that starts in 2026, and $749 for one that starts in 2027. Most people get less, because the benefit is 55% of their own average earnings. This page explains the maximum and how your amount is worked out; the EI calculator estimates it.

The maximum by year

Claim starts inMaximum insurable earningsMaximum weekly benefit
2026$68,900$729
2027$70,800$749

The maximum weekly benefit is 55% of the maximum insurable earnings divided by 52: 55% × $1,325.00 = $728.75, published as $729. Your maximum is set by the year your claim starts and stays the same for the whole claim. Sources: Service Canada, EI benefit amount; CEIC, 2027 premium rate.

How your amount is calculated

  1. Take your best weeks. Service Canada looks at your insurable earnings in the last 52 weeks (or since your last claim) and picks your highest-paid weeks. How many depends on your region’s unemployment rate.
  2. Average them. Total earnings in those weeks, divided by that number of weeks.
  3. Take 55%, up to the maximum.
Regional unemployment rateBest weeks used
6% or less22
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
More than 13%14

Source: Employment Insurance Act, s. 14(2).

Example. In a region at 8.5% unemployment, the best 19 weeks are used. If those weeks total $19,000, the average is $1,000.00, and the benefit is 55% of that, $550.00 a week.

By salary (steady full-time earnings, 2026)

Annual earningsWeekly earningsWeekly EI
$30,000$577$317
$45,000$865$476
$60,000$1,154$635
$68,900 or more$1,325 or more$729 (maximum)

The family supplement

If your family’s net income is up to $25,921 a year and you or your spouse receive the Canada Child Benefit, the family supplement can raise your rate to as much as 80% of your earnings, still subject to the maximum weekly benefit. Source: Service Canada, EI benefit amount.

Maximum by type of benefit (2026)

BenefitRateMaximum a weekMaximum weeks
Regular55%$72914 to 45
Sickness55%$72926
Maternity55%$72915
Standard parental55%$72940 shared (up to 35 for one parent)
Extended parental33%$43769 shared (up to 61 for one parent)
Family caregiver, child55%$72935
Family caregiver, adult55%$72915
Compassionate care55%$72926

Quebec residents get maternity and parental benefits from QPIP, which has its own higher maximums; see QPIP.

What reduces the amount you actually receive

  • Tax is withheld from each payment; EI is taxable.
  • Earnings while on claim reduce it; see how much can I earn while on EI.
  • The waiting week is unpaid on most claims (it was waived for claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 9, 2027).
  • Repayment at tax time if your net income is above $86,125 (2026); see EI repayment.

Sources

The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 23, 2026 and October 7, 2026. How we check facts.