How Many Weeks of EI Can I Get? 2026 Weeks of Entitlement Table by Region

ESTIMATE

Estimates as of 3 November 2026, for information only — not legal advice or a decision on your claim; Service Canada decides eligibility and the exact amount. 2026 figures from Canada.ca: 55% benefit rate, maximum insurable earnings $68,900, maximum $729 a week (extended parental 33%, $437). Regional rates for 11 October to 7 November 2026.

You can get between 14 and 45 weeks of EI regular benefits. The number comes from the Table of Weeks of Benefits in the Employment Insurance Act: find the row for the insurable hours you worked in the last 52 weeks and the column for your region’s unemployment rate. After a full year of full-time work you get the maximum for your region — currently 38 weeks in Toronto, 38 in Calgary and 45 in high-unemployment regions.

Two inputs decide the length

Insurable hours in the qualifying period and the regional rate for the week your claim starts (rates for 11 October to 7 November 2026).

14–45 weeks420–700 hours62 EI regions+20 long-tenured (temp.)

Compare EI with your normal take-home pay

Open the Ontario take-home pay calculator to see your 2026 pay after federal and Ontario tax, CPP and EI premiums — the number EI is really replacing.

Open the take-home pay calculator →

Maximum weeks of EI in major cities

After 1,820+ insurable hours. Rates for 11 October to 7 November 2026.

The table rewards both long attachment to work and living where jobs are scarce. At 6% unemployment or less you need 700 hours and get 14 to 36 weeks; where unemployment is above 16% you need only 420 hours and get 32 to 45 weeks. Each percentage point of unemployment adds two weeks, and every extra 35 to 70 hours you worked adds roughly another week.

EI weeks of benefits table (Schedule I)

Weeks of regular benefits by insurable hours in the qualifying period (rows) and regional unemployment rate (columns). “–” means you do not have enough hours to qualify at that rate.

Hours	6% and under	6.1–7%	7.1–8%	8.1–9%	9.1–10%	10.1–11%	11.1–12%	12.1–13%	13.1–14%	14.1–15%	15.1–16%	over 16%
420–454	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	26	28	30	32
455–489	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	24	26	28	30	32
490–524	–	–	–	–	–	–	23	25	27	29	31	33
525–559	–	–	–	–	–	21	23	25	27	29	31	33
560–594	–	–	–	–	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
595–629	–	–	–	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34
630–664	–	–	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35
665–699	–	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35
700–734	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36
735–769	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36
770–804	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37
805–839	15	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37
840–874	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38
875–909	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38
910–944	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39
945–979	17	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39
980–1,014	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
1,015–1,049	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40
1,050–1,084	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
1,085–1,119	19	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41
1,120–1,154	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
1,155–1,189	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42
1,190–1,224	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
1,225–1,259	21	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43
1,260–1,294	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
1,295–1,329	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44
1,330–1,364	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1,365–1,399	23	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45
1,400–1,434	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45
1,435–1,469	25	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45
1,470–1,504	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45
1,505–1,539	27	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45
1,540–1,574	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45
1,575–1,609	29	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45
1,610–1,644	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45
1,645–1,679	31	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45
1,680–1,714	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45
1,715–1,749	33	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45
1,750–1,784	34	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45
1,785–1,819	35	37	39	41	43	45	45	45	45	45	45	45
1,820+	36	38	40	42	44	45	45	45	45	45	45	45

Source: Employment Insurance Act, Schedule I (Table of Weeks of Benefits). Benefits must also be paid within your 52-week benefit period.

Hours required, best weeks and weeks payable by region (11 October to 7 November 2026)

EI economic region	Rate	Hours needed	Min weeks	Max weeks	Best weeks
St. John's NL	6.6%	665	15	38	21
Newfoundland/Labrador (excl. St. John's) NL	11.6%	490	23	45	16
Charlottetown PE	5.7%	700	14	36	22
PEI (excl. Charlottetown) PE	9.8%	560	20	44	18
Eastern Nova Scotia NS	8.1%	595	18	42	19
Western Nova Scotia NS	6.2%	665	15	38	21
Halifax NS	5.9%	700	14	36	22
Fredericton-Moncton-Saint John NB	6.7%	665	15	38	21
Madawaska-Charlotte NB	5.7%	700	14	36	22
Restigouche-Albert NB	10.2%	525	21	45	17
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine QC	11.2%	490	23	45	16
Quebec City QC	4.4%	700	14	36	22
Trois-Rivières QC	5.4%	700	14	36	22
South Central Quebec QC	2.4%	700	14	36	22
Sherbrooke QC	4.3%	700	14	36	22
Montérégie QC	4.4%	700	14	36	22
Montréal QC	7.1%	630	17	40	20
Central Quebec QC	3.1%	700	14	36	22
North Western Quebec QC	4.2%	700	14	36	22
Lower Saint Lawrence and North Shore QC	5.1%	700	14	36	22
Hull QC	6.6%	665	15	38	21
Chicoutimi-Jonquière QC	3.7%	700	14	36	22
Ottawa ON	7.4%	630	17	40	20
Eastern Ontario ON	6.2%	665	15	38	21
Kingston ON	5.6%	700	14	36	22
Central Ontario ON	5.9%	700	14	36	22
Oshawa ON	8.9%	595	18	42	19
Toronto ON	6.9%	665	15	38	21
Hamilton ON	6.9%	665	15	38	21
St. Catharines ON	6.8%	665	15	38	21
London ON	8.7%	595	18	42	19
Niagara ON	7.0%	665	15	38	21
Windsor ON	7.4%	630	17	40	20
Kitchener ON	7.6%	630	17	40	20
Huron ON	7.8%	630	17	40	20
South Central Ontario ON	5.4%	700	14	36	22
Sudbury ON	5.8%	700	14	36	22
Thunder Bay ON	4.8%	700	14	36	22
Northern Ontario ON	7.0%	665	15	38	21
Winnipeg MB	5.0%	700	14	36	22
Southern Manitoba MB	5.9%	700	14	36	22
Northern Manitoba MB	28.8%	420	32	45	14
Regina SK	6.3%	665	15	38	21
Saskatoon SK	5.9%	700	14	36	22
Southern Saskatchewan SK	6.8%	665	15	38	21
Northern Saskatchewan SK	14.4%	420	28	45	14
Calgary AB	6.5%	665	15	38	21
Edmonton AB	7.1%	630	17	40	20
Northern Alberta AB	8.6%	595	18	42	19
Southern Alberta AB	7.2%	630	17	40	20
Southern Interior British Columbia BC	8.1%	595	18	42	19
Abbotsford BC	6.9%	665	15	38	21
Vancouver BC	6.6%	665	15	38	21
Victoria BC	5.7%	700	14	36	22
Southern Coastal British Columbia BC	6.5%	665	15	38	21
Northern British Columbia BC	8.7%	595	18	42	19
Whitehorse YT	4.9%	700	14	36	22
Yukon (excl. Whitehorse) YT	6.8%	665	15	38	21
Yellowknife NT	4.3%	700	14	36	22
NWT (excl. Yellowknife) NT	8.9%	595	18	42	19
Iqaluit NU	6.0%	700	14	36	22
Nunavut (excl. Iqaluit) NU	15.5%	420	30	45	14

Source: Service Canada, EI Program Characteristics. Violations on previous claims can raise the hours required.

How to read your own number

Count your insurable hours on all your Records of Employment in the last 52 weeks (full time is about 35 to 40 hours a week, so six months is roughly 900 to 1,050 hours). Find your region by postal code on Service Canada’s site and read off the rate. For example, 1,050 hours in Toronto (6.9%) gives 21 weeks; the same hours in London (8.7%) give 25 weeks; in rural Newfoundland and Labrador (11.6%), 31.

Extra weeks in 2026–2027

Long-tenured workers: up to 20 additional weeks for claims starting by 12 June 2027 (EI Pilot Project No. 25), if you paid at least 30% of the maximum annual premium in 7 of the last 10 years and received fewer than 36 weeks of regular benefits in the last 156 weeks. Entitlement can then reach 65 weeks.
Seasonal workers in 13 designated regions can get up to 5 extra weeks under a separate pilot if they have a history of seasonal claims; check eligibility with Service Canada.
Sickness, maternity and parental weeks are fixed (26, 15, 35/61) and don’t use this table — but they can be combined with regular benefits on the same claim, up to set limits.

Check your take-home pay before and after

The Ontario take-home pay calculator shows your 2026 net pay after tax, CPP and EI premiums — the income your EI benefit is replacing.

Open the take-home pay calculator →

FAQ