EI Benefits After Losing Your Job in Ontario: How Much and How to Apply
Employment Insurance pays up to 55% of your earnings after a job loss, to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026. Here is how much you can get, and how to apply without delay.
Key takeaways
- EI regular benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings.
- The 2026 maximum is $729 per week (based on $68,900 max insurable earnings).
- You can receive benefits for up to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and region.
- Apply right away, even before you get your ROE, since delay can cost you.
- Severance can delay EI, but you should still apply promptly.
In this article
If you have lost your job through no fault of your own, Employment Insurance can bridge the gap while you look for work. But the amount is capped, the timing rules matter, and severance changes when your benefits actually start. Here is what EI regular benefits pay in Ontario and how to apply the right way. The figures below are current as of 2026.
✅Quick answer. EI regular benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a 2026 maximum of $729 per week (based on maximum insurable earnings of $68,900). You can collect for up to 45 weeks, depending on your insurable hours and your region's unemployment rate. There is a one-week waiting period, and you should apply as soon as you stop working, even before you receive your Record of Employment. If you get severance, it can push back when your EI payments start, but applying promptly still protects you.
How much does EI pay?
Your benefit is calculated at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, worked out from your best weeks of earnings over the qualifying period. Because there is a cap on insurable earnings, there is a cap on the benefit:
| EI regular benefit (2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Benefit rate | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings |
| Maximum insurable earnings | $68,900 per year |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $729 per week |
| Maximum duration | Up to 45 weeks |
| Waiting period | 1 week |
If your net family income is $25,921 or less and you have children, the EI family supplement may increase your rate. Your weekly amount, once set, generally stays the same for the life of your claim.
Who qualifies?
In general terms, EI regular benefits are for people who lost their job through no fault of their own, for example a layoff or a without-cause termination, who have enough insurable hours in the qualifying period, and who are ready, willing, and able to work. If you quit without just cause or were dismissed for misconduct, EI can be denied or delayed, which is one reason the reason code on your Record of Employment matters so much.
How to apply, and why timing matters
- 1.Apply online through Service Canada as soon as you stop working; do not wait for your ROE, since applying late can cost you benefits.
- 2.Have your details ready: your employment history, dates, and banking information for direct deposit.
- 3.Your employer's ROE is usually filed electronically, and Service Canada will match it to your claim.
- 4.Complete your biweekly reports to keep your benefits flowing while you look for work.
How severance affects your EI
This is the part people miss. Severance or termination pay is generally treated as earnings, so it can delay the start of your EI benefits, roughly as if you were still being paid during that period, and EI you do receive may need to be repaid out of a later settlement. That does not mean you should skip applying. You still apply promptly, and the timing gets sorted out. We explain the interaction in detail in can I collect EI and severance at the same time.
EI replaces only a capped slice of your income, which is why your severance usually matters far more to your financial recovery. Note too that EI also offers maternity, parental, and sickness benefits under different rules. If you were let go, get your severance reviewed, because most first offers are below what you are owed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does EI pay in Ontario?
EI regular benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a 2026 maximum of $729 per week, based on maximum insurable earnings of $68,900. You can collect for up to 45 weeks depending on your hours and region.
When should I apply for EI?
As soon as you stop working. Do not wait for your Record of Employment, because applying late can cost you benefits. Your employer's ROE is usually filed electronically and matched to your claim by Service Canada.
Does severance stop me from getting EI?
Not permanently, but it can delay when your benefits start, since severance is generally treated as earnings, and EI you receive may be repaid out of a later settlement. You should still apply promptly and let the timing be sorted out.
Can I get EI if I quit or was fired for cause?
It can be denied or delayed. EI regular benefits are for people who lost their job through no fault of their own. Quitting without just cause or being dismissed for misconduct can disqualify you, which is why your ROE reason code matters.
Priya Sharma
Legal Writer, Mirza Law
Priya Sharma is a legal writer at Mirza Law in Toronto. She writes about wrongful dismissal, workplace rights, and what Ontario employees can do when they are treated unfairly.
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