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The EI maximum weekly benefit is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, and those earnings are capped by the maximum insurable earnings for the year, which is $70,800 for 2027. An Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) summary states the 2027 maximum at $749 a week, up from $729 in 2026. The main benefit amount page still shows only 2026 figures (checked 31 October 2026).
Status on 31 October 2026: The ESDC page Summary of the 2027 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate (page date 17 September 2026) says the maximum weekly benefit rate for 2027 is $749. The Canada.ca EI regular benefit amount page lists $729 as the 2026 maximum and has no 2027 figure. Neither page says from which claim start date the 2027 rate applies. Our own calculation from the rule, 0.55 x 70,800 / 52 = $748.85, rounds to $749 and matches the ESDC figure.
What is the EI maximum weekly benefit for 2027?
ESDC states $749 for 2027. The table below shows the official figures for the past years next to the 2027 figure, with the page each one comes from.
| Year | Maximum insurable earnings | Maximum weekly benefit | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,200 | $668 | ESDC notice on 2025 maximum insurable earnings |
| 2025 | $65,700 | $695 | ESDC notices for 2025 and 2026 |
| 2026 | $68,900 | $729 | EI regular benefit amount page |
| 2027 | $70,800 | $749 | ESDC actuarial summary; not on the benefit amount page |
How is the maximum weekly benefit worked out?
The basic rate is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum. The maximum follows from the yearly ceiling: 55% of the maximum insurable earnings, divided by 52 weeks, rounded to the dollar. This is our calculation, and it reproduces each official figure in the table.
- 2024: 0.55 x 63,200 / 52 = $668.46, which rounds to $668.
- 2025: 0.55 x 65,700 / 52 = $694.90, which rounds to $695.
- 2026: 0.55 x 68,900 / 52 = $728.75, which rounds to $729.
- 2027: 0.55 x 70,800 / 52 = $748.85, which rounds to $749.
To reach the maximum in 2027 you would need average insurable weekly earnings of about $1,361.54 (70,800 / 52, our calculation), compared with $1,325.00 in 2026. The Canada.ca page explains that the average is taken over your best weeks, 14 to 22 of them depending on the regional unemployment rate, and that the weekly rate does not change for the life of the claim.
What would a claim look like in dollars?
Two simple illustrations, using the $749 maximum that ESDC states for 2027. They are examples, not predictions about any claim, and benefits are paid before tax.
- A person whose average insurable weekly earnings are $1,000 gets 55%, which is $550 a week.
- A person who averages $1,500 a week would work out to $825 before the cap. The cap holds the rate at $749.
EI benefits are taxable, and federal and provincial or territorial tax is deducted from the payments where it applies. Low-income families can get a higher rate. On the 2026 page the family supplement applies when net family income is no more than $25,921 and the family receives the Canada Child Benefit, and it can lift the rate to as much as 80% of average insurable earnings.
How many weeks of EI can I get, and how many hours do I need?
The Canada.ca pages give ranges that depend on your region. You need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period. Regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or lower require 700 hours, and regions above 13% require 420 hours. Benefits last from 14 to 45 weeks, depending on the regional rate when you file and the insurable hours you built up in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter. Seasonal workers can get additional weeks, up to the 45 week maximum.
The best-weeks count follows the same logic: 22 weeks where regional unemployment is 6% or less, 14 weeks at 13.1% or more, and a number between 14 and 22 in the middle. These tables are from the 2026 pages, so check the current region table on Canada.ca before you rely on them for a 2027 claim.
Which temporary EI measures run into 2027?
The Canada.ca page on temporary measures for major changes in economic conditions lists these dates for new claims.
- Most recent reason for separation: claims starting from October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027. Only your most recent separation is looked at.
- Waiting period waiver: new claims starting from March 30, 2025 to October 9, 2027.
- Suspension of the allocation of separation earnings: claims or allocations starting from March 30, 2025 to October 9, 2027.
- Extra 20 weeks of regular benefits for long-tenured workers: claims starting from June 15, 2025 to June 12, 2027, with total regular benefits capped at 65 weeks.
Other measures exist for employers, such as Work-Sharing. These dates can be extended or allowed to end, so the live page is the one to check when you file.
Does the 2027 maximum apply to every claim?
The maximum is tied to the claim start date. The 2026 rate of $729 applies to claims beginning on or after December 28, 2025, and the 2025 rate of $695 applied to claims beginning on or after December 29, 2024. The pages we opened do not give the matching start date for the $749 rate, so a claim that starts in the last days of December 2026 or the first days of January 2027 is worth checking with Service Canada. Our EI calculator gives a rough weekly estimate, and EI regular benefits step by step explains the claim process.
What to watch
The thing to watch is the Canada.ca EI regular benefit amount page. When it moves from the 2026 figures to 2027, it should confirm the maximum insurable earnings, the rate of $749 and, ideally, the claim start date. The premium side is already published: our article on EI premiums in 2027 covers the 1.64% rate. Quebec residents get maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec plan, so the Quebec page and the 2026 vs 2027 tax numbers page are worth a look. If a layoff or a severance payment is involved, see quit or laid off: EI and severance. For the official wording, open the Canada.ca: EI regular benefit, benefit amount page and the Canada.ca: temporary EI measures page.
Where does this information come from?
Figures come from the Employment and Social Development Canada page Summary of the 2027 Actuarial Report on the Employment Insurance Premium Rate, the Canada.ca EI regular benefit amount and eligibility pages, the ESDC notices on maximum insurable earnings for 2025 and 2026, and the Canada.ca page on temporary EI measures. Weekly arithmetic is our own calculation. Checked on 31 October 2026. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, we collect information from open sources, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. Check the official source before you rely on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum EI weekly benefit in 2027?
An Employment and Social Development Canada summary states the maximum weekly benefit rate for 2027 at $749, up from $729 in 2026. It is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings up to the $70,800 yearly ceiling. The Canada.ca benefit amount page still showed 2026 figures on 31 October 2026.
How is the EI maximum weekly benefit calculated?
The basic rate is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, capped by the maximum insurable earnings. Our calculation for 2027 is 0.55 x 70,800 / 52 = $748.85, which rounds to $749. The same formula reproduces the official $668, $695 and $729 for 2024 to 2026.
How many hours do I need to qualify for EI?
On the Canada.ca eligibility page you need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period. Regions with unemployment of 6% or lower require 700 hours, and regions above 13% require 420 hours. Your region decides the number.
How many weeks of regular EI can I receive?
Regular benefits last from 14 to 45 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in your region when you file and the insurable hours you have. Seasonal workers can get extra weeks, up to 45. The Canada.ca page has the full table by region.
Which temporary EI measures are in place until October 2027?
Per Canada.ca, the waiting period waiver and the suspension of separation earnings allocation apply to claims starting through October 9, 2027, and the most recent separation measure covers claims from October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027. The extra 20 weeks for long-tenured workers ends June 12, 2027.