About MyEI.ca
MyEI.ca helps people in Canada work out their Employment Insurance (EI) before they apply: how much, for how long, whether they are likely to qualify, and the dates that matter. It is independent and is not affiliated with Service Canada or the Government of Canada.
How the EI calculator works
- Region. Your postal code's first three characters point to one of the 62 EI economic regions. We sampled Service Canada's official postal-code lookup to build this map; when a postal area spans regions, or is not yet mapped, you pick your region from the list. The region's unemployment rate comes from the official EI regional rates table for November 8, 2026 – December 5, 2026.
- Hours needed. From 700 hours (rate 6% or less) down to 420 (above 13%), in 35-hour steps, as set out in the Employment Insurance Act.
- Weekly amount. 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings over your best 14–22 weeks (the number depends on the regional rate), up to the 2026 maximum of $729 a week ($68,900 maximum insurable earnings a year).
- Weeks. Looked up in the official table of weeks (Schedule I of the Act, 41 hour bands × 12 rate bands), never estimated with a formula.
- Dates. The 4-week apply-by date, the claim start, the 52-week benefit period, and the temporary waiting-period waiver for claims starting October 11, 2026 – October 9, 2027.
All calculations run in your browser. We do not receive or keep your income, hours or postal code.
Keeping it current
- Regional rates: updated within three working days of each new official table (about every four weeks).
- Annual numbers (maximum insurable earnings, premium rates, the maximum weekly benefit): switched every January when the Canada Employment Insurance Commission confirms them.
- Temporary measures: every mention carries its window and end date, and is reviewed 30 days before it ends.
Rules last checked: November 6, 2026.
How the site is paid for
The tools are free and need no account. The site shows ads on articles and below results, and sells one optional product: the EI Claim Planner, a printable personal plan built from your own calculation. We never apply for EI for you and do not give legal advice. For your own case, contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218.