Canada Raises Employment Insurance Weekly Benefit to $749

Employment and Social Development Canada announced an increase in the maximum weekly benefit for the Employment Insurance (EI) programme, raising it from $729 to $749, effective December 27, 2026. This $20 increase applies to all EI support categories, including regular benefits for laid-off workers, sickness benefits, maternity benefits, standard parental benefits, caregiving benefits, and compassionate care benefits.

Workers who initiate a claim on or after December 27, 2026, will be eligible for the new rate, irrespective of their termination date or application filing date. Additionally, the ceiling for extended parental benefits will rise from $437 to $449 per week.

The maximum benefit represents the upper limit, with actual payments calculated at 55% of a claimant's average insurable weekly earnings, while extended parental benefits are calculated at 33%. To qualify for the full maximum, a worker must have earned at least $70,800 annually, which is the new threshold replacing the previous cap.