EI Sickness Benefits Canada 2026 — Up to 26 Weeks Income Replacement

Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefits provide temporary income support to Canadians who cannot work due to illness, injury, or quarantine. In 2026, you can receive up to 26 weeks of EI sickness benefits at 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $695/week ($36,140 annualized). This is often the first line of financial support when a disability or serious illness strikes.

  2026 EI Sickness Key Numbers: Maximum weekly benefit: $695 | Duration: up to 26 weeks | Rate: 55% of average insurable earnings | Waiting period: 1 week | Maximum insurable earnings: $65,700/year | Hours required: 600 insurable hours in last 52 weeks

EI Sickness Benefit Calculator

Your gross annual salary ($) Weeks you need EI sickness (max 26) Do you have employer top-up (SUB plan)?

Eligibility for EI Sickness Benefits

Must have accumulated 600 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks (or since your last EI claim)
Must have a valid medical certificate — a doctor or approved practitioner must confirm you are unable to work
Must be employed in insurable employment (most regular employment qualifies; self-employed may opt in separately)
Must have stopped working (not working any hours) due to the illness
Must be a Canadian resident

The 1-Week Waiting Period

There is a 1-week unpaid waiting period at the start of your EI sickness claim. You effectively receive 25 weeks of payments for a 26-week claim. Some employers' supplemental unemployment benefit (SUB) plans cover this first week — check your employment contract or HR department.

Applying for EI Sickness Benefits

Apply online at canada.ca/EI as soon as you stop working — do NOT wait until your sick leave runs out
Get your Record of Employment (ROE) from your employer (they submit this to Service Canada electronically)
Obtain a Medical Certificate confirming you are unable to work and the expected duration of illness
Submit your EI application online — keep checking your My Service Canada Account for updates
Complete bi-weekly reports to confirm continued eligibility

EI Sickness and Short-Term Disability Insurance

Many Canadians have short-term disability (STD) insurance through their employer that pays 70–100% of salary. STD typically runs 15–26 weeks. If EI and STD overlap, EI benefits are usually reduced dollar-for-dollar by any other income received. Coordinate timing with your HR department to avoid over-payment and repayment situations.

What Happens After 26 Weeks?

If your disability continues beyond 26 weeks, consider these next steps:

Option	Monthly Benefit	Key Requirement
LTD Insurance	60–70% of salary	Active employer LTD policy
CPP Disability	$558–$1,621	4 of last 6 years CPP contributions
ODSP (Ontario)	~$1,228	Ontario resident, means test
AISH (Alberta)	$1,685	Alberta resident, means test

EI Sickness and the Disability Tax Credit

Receiving EI sickness does not automatically qualify you for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). The DTC requires a separate application with medical certification of a severe and prolonged impairment. However, applying for the DTC concurrently with EI sickness is wise — if your condition is prolonged (12+ months), DTC approval opens doors to additional credits and RDSP savings.

Self-Employed Canadians

Self-employed Canadians can access EI sickness benefits if they have registered for the EI self-employed program and paid premiums for at least 12 months. Benefits are calculated the same way as for employed workers. Register early — you cannot retroactively pay into the program when you need it.

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Informational only. EI amounts adjusted annually. Verify current rates with Service Canada. Last updated March 2026.