EI sickness benefits pay up to 26 weeks of Employment Insurance if you can't work for medical reasons. As of October 2026, the Government of Canada says you could get 55% of your insurable earnings, up to $729 a week in 2026. You need 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks, a drop of more than 40% in your weekly earnings and a medical certificate.
The deadline matters more than most people realise: apply as soon as you stop working, because applying more than 4 weeks after your last day of work can cost you benefits. You don't need every document first. Everything here comes from the Government of Canada's EI sickness pages.
EI sickness benefits at a glance
| Rule | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum length | Up to 26 weeks |
| Benefit rate | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings |
| Weekly maximum | $729 |
| Hours needed | 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before the claim, or since your last claim if shorter |
| Earnings drop | More than 40% for at least one week |
| Apply by | Within 4 weeks of your last day of work, to avoid losing benefits |
Who qualifies
- You're unable to work for medical reasons: illness, injury, quarantine or any medical condition that stops you working.
- Your regular weekly earnings have fallen by more than 40% for at least one week.
- You've built up 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim starts, or since your last claim, whichever is shorter.
- You'd otherwise be available for work if it weren't for your medical condition.
If you had an EI claim in the past 52 weeks, you may not get the full 26 weeks, although you might be able to start a new claim if you've worked enough hours since. Check whether your employer has its own paid sick leave or short-term disability plan first: some employers also pay a top-up on top of EI.
How much you'll get
- Service Canada adds up your insurable weekly earnings from your 'best weeks', your highest paid weeks.
- It divides that by the number of best weeks, which is between 14 and 22 depending on the unemployment rate where you live.
- It multiplies the result by 55%, capped at $729 a week in 2026.
Insurable earnings include most pay from employment: wages, tips, bonuses and commissions, before tax. If your hours swing up and down, the best weeks method helps, because only your highest paid weeks count. Lower-income families can get a family supplement added automatically if net family income is $25,921 or less, there's at least one child under 18 and someone receives the Canada Child Benefit, but the total still can't go above $729 a week.
The medical certificate
You need a certificate from the treating professional showing you can't work and roughly for how long. They can use Service Canada's own form or theirs, as long as it's readable, on letterhead or stamped, shows your name, the start date and expected duration, and is signed. These professionals can sign it:
| Can sign | Notes |
|---|---|
| Medical doctor, nurse practitioner | Any medical reason in their field |
| Chiropractor, podiatrist, optometrist, dentist | Only for conditions in their field of expertise |
| Psychologist | Mental health conditions |
| Midwife | Pregnancy-related conditions |
| Registered nurse | Only in isolated areas when a doctor is unavailable |
| Public health authority representative | A letter for quarantine |
They must practise in Canada or the United States. If you're not asked to send the certificate with your application, keep it for 6 years. Service Canada doesn't reimburse any fee the professional charges for writing it.
How to apply, step by step
- Apply online as soon as you stop working. Don't wait for documents.
- Have ready: employers and dates for the past 52 weeks, reasons each job ended, your SIN, your mailing and home address, one parent's last name at birth and your banking details for direct deposit.
- Finish the application, which takes about 1 hour. It's saved for 72 hours if you need to come back.
- Send the medical certificate if asked, through My Service Canada Account, by post or in person.
- Make sure your Records of Employment are in. Electronic ROEs go straight to Service Canada; paper ones you must request and send yourself.
- Watch for a benefit statement in the post with a four-digit access code, which you'll need with your SIN to follow up.
Employers: issuing the Record of Employment promptly is what lets your employee's claim move. Provincial job-protected leave is a separate thing from EI pay; in Ontario, see the Employment Standards Act guide.
After you apply
A benefit statement isn't a decision: receiving one only means your application has arrived. Use the access code and your SIN to check progress, keep your medical certificate safe for 6 years, and tell Service Canada if your expected return date changes, since the length of the claim depends on how long you're unable to work. If your earnings vary a lot, check your economic region before you apply, because it decides how many best weeks are averaged.
Sickness during pregnancy
If you have health complications or need bed rest during pregnancy, you could qualify for sickness benefits or for maternity benefits earlier. You have to meet the conditions for each. If your condition is expected to be long-term or permanent, the Government of Canada points to other disability benefits instead.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
If you live in Ontario, the province's own sick day rules are in my guide to sick leave in Ontario.
The verdict
Apply the week you stop working, even without your certificate, and ask your employer about any top-up or sick plan at the same time. At $729 a week maximum, EI sickness is a floor, not a full wage, so it's worth knowing that number before you need it. If the condition looks long-term, ask about disability benefits early rather than waiting for the 26 weeks to run out.
Expecting a baby instead? The maternity and parental side is laid out in my guide to EI maternity and parental benefits.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you get EI sickness benefits?
Up to 26 weeks, depending on how long you're unable to work for medical reasons.
How much do EI sickness benefits pay in 2026?
55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 a week, as of October 2026.
How many hours do you need for EI sickness?
600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim, or since your last claim if that's shorter.
Do I need a doctor's note for EI sickness benefits?
You need a medical certificate signed by a treating professional, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner, showing you can't work.
