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Federal (Canada)Income support

Employment Insurance

Temporary income if you lose your job through no fault of your own (regular benefits) or cannot work because of illness or injury (sickness benefits). You must have paid into EI.

Estimated value
55% of earnings, up to $729/week (2026), for up to 45 weeks (regular) or 26 weeks (sickness)
Check if I qualify →

Who qualifies

  • You must have lost your job through no fault of your own (regular) or be unable to work due to illness or injury (sickness), and have paid EI premiums.
  • You need enough insurable hours in the last 52 weeks — usually 420 to 700 depending on your region.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply as soon as you stop working

    Apply online right away — even before you get your Record of Employment. Waiting more than 4 weeks can cost you benefits.

    Go to application ↗
  2. 2

    Get your Record of Employment

    Your employer sends the Record of Employment to Service Canada, usually electronically. For sickness benefits you also need a medical certificate.

  3. 3

    Submit reports every 2 weeks

    To keep getting paid, submit your reports on time confirming you are still eligible.

Documents you will need

  • Record of Employment
  • Social Insurance Number
  • Banking information for direct deposit
  • Medical certificate (for sickness benefits)
Processing time
First payment usually in 28 days
How often it is paid
Every 2 weeks

Good to know

  • Apply right away — do not wait for your Record of Employment. Waiting more than 4 weeks after your last day can cost you benefits.
  • Self-employed people can opt in for special benefits (sickness, maternity, parental) but not regular benefits.

Often applied for together

Canada Workers BenefitCPP Disability Benefit
Official government page ↗
Last verified: September 1, 2026