Last verified: October 12, 2026
A new Employment Insurance rule took effect on October 11, 2026, for workers who changed jobs before becoming unemployed. If your most recent job ended through no fault of your own, Service Canada will temporarily look only at that final separation when deciding whether hours from earlier jobs can count toward your claim.
This can help someone who quit an earlier job without just cause, or was dismissed from it for misconduct, and later lost a different job through no fault of their own. Under the temporary rule, all insurable employment and hours accumulated during the qualifying period can be used to establish the claim.
It is not a blanket right to EI after quitting. Your most recent separation still matters, and you must meet the other eligibility conditions. The rule applies to claims starting from October 11, 2026, through October 9, 2027.
The new EI rule for job changers
Under the usual EI rules, insurable employment and hours from a job may be excluded if you voluntarily left without just cause or lost the job because of your own misconduct. That exclusion can affect a later claim, even after you move to another employer.
The temporary measure changes that test for one year. Service Canada says that only the most recent reason for separation will be reviewed for claims beginning within the October 11, 2026, to October 9, 2027 window. If the most recent job ended through no fault of the worker, all insurable employment and hours from the qualifying period will be considered.
Consider someone who leaves Job A without just cause, then works at Job B and is laid off because there is not enough work. Under the temporary measure, the earlier Job A hours are no longer automatically excluded solely because of that earlier quit. The worker still needs enough insurable hours and must satisfy the remaining EI rules, so the change can make a claim possible but does not guarantee approval.
All four temporary EI measures and their exact dates
| Temporary measure | Claims or allocations covered | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Review only the most recent separation | October 11, 2026, to October 9, 2027 | Earlier insurable hours can count when the most recent job ended through no fault of the worker. |
| Waive the one week waiting period | March 30, 2025, to October 9, 2027 | New claims can pay from the first eligible week instead of beginning with an unpaid week. |
| Do not deduct separation earnings | Claims or allocations starting March 30, 2025, to October 9, 2027 | Vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice, severance pay, closure bonuses and sick leave credits are not deducted from EI benefits. |
| Add weeks for long-tenured workers | Claims starting June 15, 2025, to June 12, 2027 | Qualifying workers can receive 20 additional weeks of regular benefits, up to 65 weeks. |
The federal government’s current temporary-measures page now lists the exact dates. That resolves the uncertainty that existed when these extensions were first announced in August.
Your latest job must still end for an acceptable reason
The wording “only your most recent reason for separation will be reviewed” is the key limitation. The measure is designed for a person whose earlier work history includes a problematic separation, but whose latest job ended through no fault of their own.
If you quit the most recent job without just cause or were dismissed from it for misconduct, the temporary rule does not erase that final separation. Service Canada decides eligibility from the facts and the records of employment. Applicants must provide details for all employment during the past 52 weeks, or since the start of the last claim if that period is shorter.
This is also why the new measure should not be read as permission to quit a current job and expect EI. It helps with earlier separations after a later involuntary job loss.
Severance and vacation pay do not delay benefits during the temporary period
A separate measure suspends the allocation of separation earnings. For claims or allocations starting no later than October 9, 2027, amounts such as vacation pay, pay in lieu of notice and severance are not deducted from EI benefits.
You still have to report these payments. The temporary rule changes how Service Canada treats them, not whether they must be disclosed.
The one week waiting period is also waived for new claims in the same extended window. Service Canada notes one exception worth checking: serving the waiting period can sometimes be more favourable when an employer provides a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit top-up.
Long-tenured workers have an earlier deadline
The extra 20 weeks for long-tenured workers ends sooner than the other measures. The claim must start by June 12, 2027.
To qualify, a worker must have received fewer than 36 weeks of regular or fishing benefits during the three years before the claim and must have paid at least 30% of the annual maximum EI premium in at least seven of the previous ten years. At least one week of regular benefits must be payable. When the conditions are met, the extra weeks and the 20-week extension of the benefit period are added automatically.
Regular EI normally provides 14 to 45 weeks, depending on insurable hours and the unemployment rate in the claimant’s region. The temporary long-tenured measure can raise the maximum to 65 weeks.
How much EI can pay in 2026
For most claimants, regular benefits equal 55% of average insurable weekly earnings. The 2026 maximum insurable earnings amount is $68,900, which caps the weekly benefit at $729. EI payments are taxable.
The new job-change measure affects which employment and hours can be used to establish a claim. It does not raise the 55% benefit rate or the $729 weekly maximum. Our Employment Insurance guide explains premium rates, qualifying hours and benefit calculations, while the Canadian payroll calculator can help you compare gross and net employment income.
What to do if you became unemployed after changing jobs
- Apply immediately. Service Canada warns that applying more than four weeks after your last day of work may cost benefits.
- Do not wait for every Record of Employment. Required documents can be provided after the application is submitted.
- List every relevant job and separation honestly. The application asks for employment details from the past 52 weeks or since the start of the last claim, whichever period is shorter.
- Identify the October 11 temporary measure. If an earlier quit or dismissal affects your work history, ask Service Canada to confirm whether the most-recent-separation rule applies to your claim.
- Report severance and vacation pay. These amounts may not be allocated under the temporary measure, but they still must be disclosed.
Workers considering a move for higher pay should also compare the risk of a short tenure, probation period and benefit coverage alongside salary. PaycheckGuru’s analysis of pay growth for Canadian job changers explains why a larger offer is only one part of the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get EI if I quit my previous job?
Possibly, if you later worked in another job and your most recent employment ended through no fault of your own. For claims beginning from October 11, 2026, to October 9, 2027, Service Canada says it will review only the most recent reason for separation when deciding whether earlier insurable employment and hours can count.
Does the new rule guarantee that my earlier hours will qualify me?
No. It prevents the earlier separation from automatically excluding those hours in the covered situation. You must still have enough insurable hours and meet all other EI eligibility conditions.
Will severance delay my EI payments?
Not for a claim or allocation starting within the temporary window ending October 9, 2027. Separation earnings are not deducted during that period, although they still must be reported.
What is the deadline for the extra 20 weeks?
A qualifying long-tenured worker’s claim must start by June 12, 2027. This deadline is earlier than the October 9, 2027 end date for the other extended measures.
Should I wait for my ROE before applying?
No. Service Canada says to apply right away. Records of Employment and other required documents can be submitted afterward.
Sources: Employment and Social Development Canada, Temporary Employment Insurance measures to respond to major changes in economic conditions, updated October 6, 2026; Service Canada, EI regular benefits: How much you could receive; Service Canada, EI regular benefits: Apply. Last verified October 12, 2026.