Why Did My EI Payment Stop, or Why Is It Less Than Expected?

When an Employment Insurance (EI) payment stops, arrives late or is smaller than you expected, the reason is almost always one of the causes below. Start by checking your messages in My Service Canada Account; Service Canada sends a letter when it decides to stop or reduce benefits.

If your payment stopped or is late

With direct deposit, payment arrives 2 to 3 business days after you complete a report. If it hasn’t, check your reports and deposit details first, then call 1-800-206-7218.

If your payment is lower than expected

1. Your average is lower than your last pay. EI pays 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings over your best weeks in the last 52 weeks: the best 14 weeks where unemployment is highest, up to the best 22 where it’s lowest. A recent raise, part-time weeks or unpaid leave pull the average down. Source: Service Canada, EI benefit amount.

2. You’re at the maximum. Insurable earnings are capped at $68,900 a year in 2026 ($1,325 a week), so the most EI pays is $729 a week, however much you earned. For claims that start in 2027 the maximum is $749.

3. Tax is withheld. EI is taxable and tax is taken off each payment, so the deposit is less than your benefit rate.

4. The first week wasn’t paid. Most claims have a 1-week unpaid waiting period. It was waived for claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 9, 2027.

5. Money from your employer was allocated. Vacation pay, severance and pay in lieu of notice are normally applied to the weeks after your job ends, delaying or reducing benefits. That was suspended for claims or allocations that start between March 30, 2025 and October 9, 2027.

6. You earned money that week. You keep 50 cents of EI for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of the weekly insurable earnings your benefit is based on; above that, earnings are deducted dollar for dollar, and a full week of work pays no EI.

7. You get a pension from employment. CPP, QPP and employer pensions count as earnings and reduce EI. Source: Service Canada, EI and the various types of earnings.

If the calculation looks wrong, check your Record of Employment (hours and earnings in blocks 15A to 15C) and ask your employer to correct it if needed; see how to apply for EI.

When your weeks run out

• New hours, new claim. If you’ve worked enough insurable hours since your last claim started, you can apply for a new one.
• Extra weeks for long-tenured workers. Long-tenured workers whose claims start between June 15, 2025 and June 12, 2027 can get up to 20 extra weeks of regular benefits (to a maximum of 65). See how EI works for who qualifies.
• Sickness benefits may be available if you can’t work for medical reasons; regular and special benefits together are usually limited to 50 weeks in one benefit period. See EI sickness benefits.

Challenging a decision

If you disagree with a decision to stop or reduce your benefits, ask for a reconsideration within 30 days, then appeal to the EI Board of Appeal. The steps and deadlines are on can you be denied EI.

Overpayments

If Service Canada decides you were paid too much, for example because earnings weren’t reported, you’ll get a notice of debt. You can repay it, ask for a reconsideration if you disagree, or arrange a repayment plan with the Canada Revenue Agency, which collects EI debts.

Related pages

• Quitting and EI
• How EI works
• EI payment dates
• How long to get your first EI payment
• Maximum EI payment