Last updated: October 9, 2026

Short answer: For EI claims that start between October 11, 2026 and October 9, 2027, Service Canada reviews only your most recent reason for separation. If you lost your most recent job through no fault of your own, every insurable hour in your qualifying period counts toward your claim — even hours from an earlier job you quit without just cause or were fired from for misconduct. Three other temporary measures run alongside it: the one-week waiting period is waived, separation earnings (severance, vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice) are not deducted, and long-tenured workers can get 20 extra weeks of regular benefits.

What changed on October 11, 2026

Under the normal EI rules, if you voluntarily left a job without just cause, or lost a job due to your own misconduct, during your qualifying period, the insurable employment and hours from that job are not used to establish your EI claim. That can sink a claim even when your most recent job ended in a clean layoff.

Under the new temporary measure, for claims starting October 11, 2026 to October 9, 2027, only your most recent reason for separation is reviewed. If that last job was lost through no fault of your own, all insurable employment and hours accumulated during the qualifying period are used to establish your claim.

The four temporary EI measures at a glance

Worked example: quit in spring, laid off in fall

Say you quit a job in March 2026 without just cause after accumulating 400 insurable hours, then started a new job and were laid off in October 2026 with another 800 insurable hours.

• Under the old rules: the 400 hours from the job you quit would not be used to establish your claim. You would be assessed on the 800 hours alone — and might not qualify, or qualify for fewer weeks.
• Under the new rule (claim starts on or after Oct 11, 2026): only the October layoff is reviewed. Because it was no fault of your own, all 1,200 hours count.

What the waived waiting week and severance rules are worth

The basic EI rate is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings. For 2026, maximum insurable earnings are $68,900, so the maximum weekly benefit is $729.

• Waiting period waived: you no longer lose the first week of benefits — worth up to $729 at the maximum rate.
• Separation earnings not deducted: severance pay, vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, closure bonuses and sick-leave credits no longer delay or reduce your benefits during the measure window. You must still report these payments to Service Canada.
• One exception to know: with a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan top-up from your employer, serving the waiting week can sometimes work to your advantage. Service Canada flags this on its temporary measures page.

Long-tenured workers: the 20-extra-weeks test

You may receive 20 additional weeks of regular benefits (up to 65 weeks total) if your claim starts between June 15, 2025 and June 12, 2027, and:

• you have received at least 1 week of regular benefits;
• you received fewer than 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits in the 3 years before your claim started; and
• you paid at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premium in at least 7 of the 10 years before the year your claim starts.

If you qualify, the extra weeks are added automatically, and your benefit period is extended by 20 weeks as well. At the 2026 maximum rate, 20 extra weeks are worth up to $14,580 gross (20 × $729 — a maximum-rate illustration, not a typical amount).

For employers: Work-Sharing special measures

Special measures for the EI Work-Sharing Program run from March 7, 2025 to March 31, 2028, giving affected businesses additional support during the economic downturn.

Frequently asked questions

Does the new separation rule apply to a claim I started before October 11, 2026?
No. The most-recent-separation rule applies to claims that start between October 11, 2026 and October 9, 2027. Claims started earlier are assessed under the rules in force when they began.

I quit a job earlier this year and was just laid off. Should I wait until October 11 to apply?
The new rule only helps if your claim starts on or after October 11, 2026, and your most recent separation was no-fault. EI normally expects you to apply as soon as you stop working — delaying an application can affect your claim — so if your last day falls just before October 11, weigh the timing carefully and check with Service Canada.

Do I still have to report my severance pay?
Yes. Separation earnings are not deducted from your benefits under the temporary measure, but payments must still be reported to Service Canada.

Is there still a waiting week in 2026?
No — the waiting period is waived for all new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and October 9, 2027. The one exception to consider is a SUB plan top-up, where serving the week can be advantageous.

How much is EI per week in 2026?
55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 per week (based on 2026 maximum insurable earnings of $68,900).

How do I get the 20 extra weeks as a long-tenured worker?
You don’t apply for them separately. If you meet all three tests above, Service Canada adds the weeks automatically and extends your benefit period by 20 weeks.

When do these temporary measures end?
The separation rule ends for claims starting after October 9, 2027. The waiting-period waiver and separation-earnings suspension also run to October 9, 2027. The long-tenured-worker measure covers claims starting up to June 12, 2027, and Work-Sharing special measures run to March 31, 2028.

Source

Service Canada — Temporary Employment Insurance measures to respond to major changes in economic conditions (canada.ca).