If you’re a Citizen, permanent resident, foreign, or temporary worker in Canada and you lose your job, Employment Insurance (EI) regular benefits may help replace part of your income while you look for new work. The key is understanding the official eligibility rules—and what documents and actions Service Canada expects.
1) The 6 core rules Service Canada uses to decide eligibility
To qualify for EI regular benefits, the Government of Canada says you must be able to show that you:
- Were employed in insurable employment
- Lost your job through no fault of your own
- Have been without work and without pay for at least 7 consecutive days in the last 52 weeks
- Worked the required number of insurable hours in the qualifying period
- Are ready, willing, and capable of working each day
- Are actively looking for work and keeping a written record of job search contacts (who you contacted and when)
Also required to get paid:
- You must complete bi-weekly reports online or by phone. If you don’t, you can lose benefits.
2) The hours requirement: most people need 420–700 insurable hours
EI regular benefits are not based on “how many months you worked.” They are based mainly on insurable hours.
The Government of Canada explains:
- You generally need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable employment
- The exact number depends on the unemployment rate in your EI economic region
- If you previously received a notice of violation, the required hours can be higher
What is the qualifying period?
- Usually the 52 weeks before your claim starts, or
- Since the start of a previous EI benefit period (if you had an approved EI claim in the last 52 weeks), whichever is shorter
- In some cases, it may be extended up to 104 weeks
Helpful tool (official):
- You can look up your EI economic region by postal code to see how many hours you need.
3) Situations where you may not be eligible (common surprises)
EI regular benefits are mainly for people who become unemployed through no fault of their own. The eligibility page lists situations where you may not qualify, including:
- You voluntarily left your job without just cause
- You were dismissed for misconduct
- You’re unemployed because you’re directly participating in a labour dispute (like a strike or lockout)
- Certain leave periods that compensate for hours worked under an agreement (as described on the EI page)
Practical takeaway for workers:
- If you’re unsure, the Government of Canada explicitly says the information is a guideline and encourages people to apply as soon as possible so they can determine eligibility.
4) What “actively looking for work” means (and what you must record)
To keep receiving EI regular benefits, you need to remain available for work and keep searching.
The Government of Canada explains that EI regular (and fishing) benefits recipients must:
- Make reasonable and ongoing job search efforts
- Document those efforts on a continuous basis
- Not pay for proof of job search, and employers do not need to sign job search forms
A simple job-search record you can keep (examples):
- Date you applied
- Employer name
- Job title
- How you applied (online/in person/email)
- Result (no reply / interview / rejected)
5) Example (with realistic numbers) to make it easier
Scenario:
Donald is a temporary worker in Ontario. He was laid off due to a shortage of work. In the last 52 weeks, he worked 580 insurable hours. After the layoff, he had 7 consecutive days without work and without pay.
How Donald checks eligibility (step-by-step):
- Donald confirms he meets the general criteria:
- Job loss through no fault of his own (layoff)
- 7 days without work and without pay
- He is ready and able to work and is actively looking
- Donald checks the insurable hours threshold for his EI economic region:
- The Government of Canada says the required hours are 420–700, depending on regional unemployment rate
- If Donald’s region requires 560 hours, his 580 hours would meet the hours threshold.
- Donald applies as soon as he stops working (recommended), and he knows he can apply even if he hasn’t received his Record of Employment yet.
- After applying, Sam completes bi-weekly reports and keeps a written job-search record.
This example shows the logic EI uses: reason for job loss + enough insurable hours + availability/job search + reporting. It does not guarantee approval.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. We are not the Government of Canada, and this is not an official government website. For official guidance, always rely on Canada.ca, provincial government, and your applicable employment standards authority.