EI for self-employed people · Calculator

Should you opt into EI as a self-employed person?

Self-employed Canadians can sign up for EI special benefits: maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care and family caregiver benefits. Answer four questions to compare the premiums you would pay with the benefit you could get.

1. Province or territory2. Net self-employed earnings last year, 2025 ($)Expected net self-employed earnings this year, 2026 ($)

Net means after business expenses (the net income on your tax return's business statement).

3. Which benefit might you need? Having a baby (I'll give birth) New child (other parent or adoption) Surgery, illness or injury Caring for a critically ill or injured child Caring for a critically ill or injured adult End-of-life care for a family member Not sure yet, just in case

When would your time off start? (due date, surgery date…)

Parental benefit option

Weeks off you plan to take (optional; blank = the maximum)

4. How many more years do you expect to be self-employed (including this one)?

Your answers are used only to calculate this page. Nothing is saved unless you buy the report.

Your verdict

Answer the questions to see whether opting in is likely worth it, probably not, or depends.

1.63% premium in 2026 (1.30% in Quebec), up to $1,123.07
$729 a week at most in 2026 (55% of earnings)
12 months after registering before you can claim
$9,254 minimum net self-employed earnings in 2025 to claim in 2026

The rules that decide it

You must register (enter into an agreement with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission) at least 12 months before you can receive any special benefit. Plan it around a due date or surgery date.
You need a minimum amount of net self-employed earnings in the calendar year before your claim.
Premiums are paid once a year with your tax return (Schedule 13), on your self-employed earnings for the whole calendar year, starting the year you sign up.
Lock-in: once you have received benefits, you must keep paying premiums for as long as you are self-employed. If you never claim, you can withdraw at any time; within 60 days you pay nothing, later you pay premiums until December 31 of that year.
To claim, the time you spend on your business must drop by more than 40% for at least one week. The first week of a claim is unpaid.
Quebec: maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits come from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan, so only sickness, compassionate care and family caregiver benefits matter here.
EI benefits are taxable income.

After you sign in, find the Employment Insurance section and select “View my agreement status (self-employed)”, then follow the instructions. Service Canada sends a letter confirming your agreement.

Have a Canadian accountant contact me

Want someone to look at your own numbers? Leave your details and we will try to pass them to an accountant in your province. We can't promise one will be available, and BenefitCanada does not recommend or vouch for any particular accountant.

Name

Province or territory

Short note (optional)

For example: “freelance designer, baby due next fall”. Please don't include your SIN, income figures or health details.

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Official figures and sources

2025 premiums: 1.64% of net self-employed earnings up to $65,700 (maximum $1,077.48); in Quebec 1.31% (maximum $860.67). CRA: EI premium rates and maximums
2026 premiums: 1.63% of net self-employed earnings up to $68,900 (maximum $1,123.07); in Quebec 1.30% (maximum $895.70). CRA: EI premium rates and maximums
2027 premiums: 1.64% of net self-employed earnings up to $70,800 (maximum $1,161.12); in Quebec 1.29% (maximum $913.32). CRA: EI premium rates and maximums
Minimum to claim in 2026: $9,254 in net self-employed earnings in 2025. Canada.ca: who can qualify
Benefit: up to 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026 (extended parental: 33%, up to $437). Canada.ca: EI for self-employed people
Maximum weeks: maternity 15; standard parental 40 shared (35 per parent); extended parental 69 shared (61 per parent). Canada.ca: maternity and parental benefits
Sickness: up to 26 weeks. Canada.ca: EI sickness benefits
Compassionate care up to 26 weeks; family caregiver for children up to 35 weeks; for adults up to 15 weeks. Canada.ca: caregiving benefits
Waiting period: 1 week for which you won't be paid. Canada.ca: after you apply
Your agreement must be active for at least 12 months before you can receive special benefits. Canada.ca: who can qualify
Withdrawal: possible at any time unless you have received benefits; no premiums if within 60 days, otherwise premiums until December 31 of that year. After a claim, premiums continue for as long as you are self-employed. Canada.ca: withdrawal from the program
Quebec: maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits come from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan. Québec.ca: QPIP

Canada.ca does not publish the exact self-employed weekly formula. Our weekly figure is an estimate: 55% of the prior year's net self-employed earnings divided by 52, up to the weekly maximum. The official estimator is the better check. Service Canada EI benefits estimator

Figures checked on Canada.ca on 2026-11-06. This tool gives general information, not financial or tax advice. Service Canada decides who qualifies and how much is paid. BenefitCanada is not affiliated with the Government of Canada.