Yes, you can work while receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in Canada. If you work part-time or earn money while receiving EI, you may still be eligible to receive a portion of your benefits. However, your EI benefits will generally be reduced based on how much you earn. The Government of Canada refers to this as Working While on Claim.
How Many Hours Can You Work While on EI?
There is no set number of hours you can work each week while receiving EI.
Instead, your eligibility and benefit amount depend largely on how much you earn and whether you work a full work week. If you work part-time, you may continue to receive some EI benefits. However, if you work a full work week, you are generally not eligible to receive EI benefits for that week, regardless of how much you earn.
You must report your hours and earnings while receiving EI.
How Much Can You Earn While on EI?
Under the Working While on Claim rules, you can generally keep 50 cents of your EI benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of the weekly earnings used to calculate your EI benefit amount.
Once your earnings exceed that 90% threshold, your EI benefits are generally reduced dollar-for-dollar.
This means working while receiving EI can increase your total weekly income, even though your EI payment may be reduced.
Example of Working While Receiving EI
For example, suppose you are receiving $500 per week in EI benefits and then earn $300 from part-time work.
Under the 50-cent rule, your EI benefits would generally be reduced by $150. In this simplified example, you would receive approximately $350 in EI benefits in addition to the $300 you earned from working, for a total weekly income of $650.
Your actual EI calculation will depend on the earnings used to establish your claim and your individual circumstances.
Can You Work Part-Time While on EI?
Yes. You can generally work part-time while receiving EI and continue to receive some benefits, provided you remain eligible.
For regular EI benefits, you must continue to meet the program’s eligibility requirements, including being ready, willing and capable of working each day and actively looking for suitable employment.
You must also report your employment income and hours worked when completing your EI reports. The Government of Canada provides more information about your responsibilities while receiving EI regular benefits.
Can You Receive EI If Your Hours Are Reduced?
Having your hours reduced does not automatically mean you qualify for EI.
For regular EI benefits, you generally need to have experienced an interruption of earnings from employment and meet the other EI eligibility requirements, including having enough insurable hours during your qualifying period.
Whether you qualify will depend on your particular employment circumstances and the applicable EI rules.
If your employer has significantly reduced your hours or changed the terms of your employment, there may also be employment law issues to consider. In some circumstances, a substantial unilateral change to your employment may amount to constructive dismissal.
What Happens If You Get a Job While on EI?
If you find part-time or temporary work while receiving EI, you may still qualify for partial EI benefits under the Working While on Claim rules.
If you begin working a full work week, you are generally not entitled to EI benefits for that week. According to the Government of Canada, however, a week in which you work a full week does not reduce the total number of weeks payable on your claim.
You should continue to accurately report your work and earnings to Service Canada.
Do You Have to Report Income While Receiving EI?
Yes. You must report your work and earnings while receiving EI, including your hours worked and your earnings before deductions.
Your earnings generally need to be reported for the week in which you earned them, even if you are paid at a later date.
Failing to accurately report work or earnings can result in EI overpayments that you may have to repay and may lead to other consequences. More information about reporting work and earnings is available from the Government of Canada on its While on EI page.
How Much Does EI Pay?
For most people receiving regular EI benefits, the basic rate is 55% of their average insurable weekly earnings, up to the maximum amount established by the federal government each year.
For claims beginning in 2026, the maximum EI regular benefit is $729 per week.
The amount you actually receive depends on factors including your previous earnings and the calculation used to establish your EI claim. The Government of Canada provides additional information about how EI regular benefit amounts are calculated.
Who Is Eligible for EI Regular Benefits?
EI regular benefits are generally available to employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and meet the federal government’s eligibility requirements.
To qualify, you generally need to have accumulated enough insurable hours during your qualifying period and experienced an interruption of earnings. You must also be ready, willing and capable of working and actively looking for suitable employment.
Employees who are terminated without cause or laid off may qualify for EI regular benefits. Eligibility is determined by Service Canada based on the circumstances of each claim.
Employees who have been temporarily laid off should also be aware that EI eligibility and their employment-law rights are separate issues. If you live in Ontario, learn more about temporary layoffs in Ontario.
What Is a Record of Employment?
A Record of Employment (ROE) contains information about your employment history, insurable earnings and insurable hours. Service Canada uses the information on your ROE to help determine whether you qualify for EI benefits, how much you may receive and how long you may receive benefits.
Employers are required to issue an ROE when an interruption of earnings occurs. The deadline for issuing it depends on factors including whether the ROE is issued electronically or on paper and the employer’s pay period.
The Government of Canada provides more information about the Record of Employment and when it must be issued.
EI and Termination of Employment
EI benefits and your legal entitlements following termination are separate issues.
Receiving EI does not determine whether your employer provided you with appropriate notice, termination pay or severance. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation from your former employer in addition to being eligible for EI benefits.
If you believe you may not have received what you are legally entitled to, learn more about wrongful dismissal in Ontario and severance pay in Ontario.
If you have recently been terminated and have questions about your severance, termination package or legal rights, contact Monkhouse Law Employment Lawyers for a free 30-minute phone consultation.