Employment Insurance premiums — employee and employer amounts
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Claim $100 Bonus →Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary income replacement when you lose your job through no fault of your own, go on maternity/parental leave (outside Quebec), get sick, or need to care for a critically ill family member. You must work a minimum number of insurable hours (420–700 depending on your region's unemployment rate) to qualify.
The 2026 employee EI premium rate is 1.66% on insurable earnings up to $63,200. The maximum annual employee premium is $1,049. Employers pay 1.4x the employee amount — $1,469 per employee who earns the maximum. Quebec employees pay 1.32% because QPIP (not EI) covers parental benefits.
EI pays 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $695 per week in 2026. If you earned $63,200 or more, the maximum weekly benefit applies. EI benefits are taxable income — you'll receive a T4E slip and must include EI income on your tax return.
If you're self-employed, you can voluntarily register for EI Special Benefits (which covers parental, sickness, and compassionate care benefits). You pay both employee and employer premiums — 2.73% total on your insurable earnings. You must register at least one year before claiming. Regular EI for job loss is not available to self-employed individuals.
Employers pay 1.4x the employee premium rate — 2.324% of insurable earnings. For an employee earning $63,200+, that's $1,469 annually. Some employers with approved wage-loss replacement plans may receive a premium reduction from ESDC.