Losing a job isn’t a disaster – if you know what to do. In Canada, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, provided you’ve worked enough insurable hours (usually 420 to 700 in the last 52 weeks, depending on your region’s unemployment rate).
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First step: apply for EI immediately. You can do this online through the Service Canada website. It’s important to apply as soon as you stop working; delays can affect your benefits. The application is free and necessary to establish your claim.
Second step: complete your application accurately. The benefit amount is based on your previous insurable earnings, up to a maximum. For 2026, the maximum yearly insurable amount is determined annually. Generally, the benefit rate is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. You can expect to receive roughly 55% of your salary, to a cap.
Important: you must be ready, willing, and capable of working each day. While on EI, you are required to actively look for work and keep a record of your job searches. Service Canada may ask to see this record. You must also accept any reasonable job offer.
Training and skills development courses are often available, sometimes funded through provincial programs or EI-part funded courses. These can include IT skills, truck driving (AZ license), language training (ESL), or healthcare aide certifications. Some programs even provide living allowances or cover travel and childcare costs. It’s a chance to retrain and find a new path.
