EI calculator (Employment Insurance 2026)

This EI calculator estimates your weekly Employment Insurance benefit in Canada for 2026. Choose regular, maternity, standard parental or extended parental benefits and enter your yearly salary or average weekly earnings: you get 55% (extended parental 33%) of your insurable earnings, capped at the 2026 maximum of $68,900 a year – at most $729 a week.

Example: Benefit type: regular benefits (job loss) · Earnings are: yearly salary · Insurable earnings before tax 52,000 $ · Weeks of regular benefits 20 weeks → EI per week (before tax): CA$550.00. Source: Employment Insurance Act, s.14, Canada.ca – EI regular benefits: how much you could receive – 55%, maximum insurable earnings $68,900 (2026), up to $729 a week (read 09.10.2026). Updated: .

$
weeks
14 to 45, depending on your hours worked and the unemployment rate in your region
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Result

EI per week (before tax)
CA$550.00
Total
CA$11,000.00 over 20 weeks
Calculation
ItemAmountBasis
Average weekly earningsCA$1,000.00yearly salary ÷ 52
Insurable weekly earningsCA$1,000.00below the maximum
Benefit rate55%regular benefits
EI per weekCA$550.00maximum CA$729.00
Per paymentCA$1,100.00EI is paid every 2 weeks
Total for 20 weeksCA$11,000.00weeks you entered
Estimate before income tax, rounded to whole dollars like Service Canada’s maximums. Not included: the family supplement for low-income families, the one-week waiting period, earnings while on claim, employer top-ups.

How it is calculated

With a $52,000 salary EI pays 55% of $1,000 a week: $550 a week before tax. The 2026 maximum is $729 a week, reached at $68,900 a year. Extended parental benefits pay 33%, at most $437 a week.

EI benefit rates and maximums 2026

BenefitRateWeekly maximumMaximum weeks
Regular benefits55%$72914 to 45
Maternity55%$72915
Standard parental55%$72940 shared, 35 for one parent
Extended parental33%$43769 shared, 61 for one parent

How the calculator works

  1. Weekly earnings: your yearly salary ÷ 52, or your average earnings in your best weeks (14 to 22 weeks depending on your region).
  2. Cap: earnings count up to $68,900 a year, which is $1,325 a week.
  3. Rate: 55% for regular, maternity and standard parental benefits; 33% for extended parental benefits.
  4. Total: weekly benefit × number of weeks.

Examples

Approaching retirement? The OAS calculator estimates your Old Age Security pension. To convert an hourly wage into a salary, use the hourly to salary calculator.

Limits

EI benefits are taxable and Service Canada deducts federal and provincial tax. How many weeks of regular benefits you get (14 to 45) depends on your insurable hours and the unemployment rate in your economic region. Low-income families with children (net family income up to $25,921) can get a family supplement that raises the rate up to 80%. Earnings while on claim, the waiting week, sickness and caregiving benefits are not included. In Quebec, maternity and parental benefits come from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan. This is an estimate – your actual amount is set when your claim is processed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum EI in 2026?

$729 a week before tax for regular, maternity and standard parental benefits, and $437 a week for extended parental benefits. Earnings above $68,900 a year do not count.

How is EI calculated?

Your average insurable weekly earnings from your best weeks are multiplied by 55% (33% for extended parental benefits), up to the maximum.

How much is maternity leave EI on $52,000?

$550 a week before tax for up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits, then $550 a week of standard parental benefits or $330 a week of extended parental benefits.

Is standard or extended parental leave better?

Standard pays 55% for up to 35 weeks per parent, extended pays 33% for up to 61 weeks. The total is similar; standard gives more money per week, extended spreads it over a longer time.

How long can I get regular EI benefits?

From 14 up to 45 weeks, depending on your insurable hours and the regional unemployment rate when you apply.

Is EI taxable?

Yes. All EI benefits are taxable income; federal and provincial income tax is deducted from your payments.

Sources and legal basis

As of: · Editorial policy

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