Quick answer: You can work while receiving Employment Insurance (EI) and may keep part of your benefit under Working While on Claim. Service Canada reduces your EI payment by 50 cents for each dollar earned up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings. Earnings above that point are deducted dollar for dollar. A full week of work means no EI payment for that week; it does not reduce the total number of weeks payable on your claim. Check Service Canada’s Working While on Claim rules.
What this means: Keep reporting your work and gross earnings for the week you worked, even if the pay arrives later. Your actual benefit depends on the earnings and benefit rate recorded on your claim. The reporting and availability rules for regular EI still apply.
What to do next: Record your hours and gross earnings for each week, then enter them on your regular two-week EI report. Use the Service Canada reporting instructions if you are unsure how to report a payment or correct a mistake.
Can you work while receiving EI?
Service Canada says Working While on Claim can apply to people receiving any type of EI benefit. You do not file a separate application for this arrangement. You keep submitting the reports required for your claim and declare the work you do. The exact duties tied to regular, sickness, maternity, parental or other benefit types can differ, so check the guidance for your claim rather than assuming every condition is the same.
For a regular EI claim, being available for work and actively looking for suitable work remain important responsibilities. Part-time work does not, by itself, settle whether you meet those conditions. Service Canada decides eligibility using the facts of the claim. Read the regular EI responsibilities.
How earnings affect your benefit
The calculation used by Service Canada is based on a standard formula. According to official guidelines, if your previous weekly earnings were $500 and your benefit rate was $275, and you earn $300 in a week from part-time work, the calculation works as follows:
- 50 cents of EI benefit is deducted per $1 earned, up to 90% of previous weekly earnings ($500 × 90% = $450).
- Your $300 earnings trigger a deduction of $150 (50% of $300).
- Your payable EI benefit for that week is reduced to $125 ($275 minus $150).
Earnings above $450 are deducted dollar-for-dollar from the benefit. This example is provided for illustration only and is based on the official example published by the Government of Canada. Your actual figures will depend on your specific earnings and benefit rate.
Reporting your earnings
You must report earnings for the week the work occurred, even if you are paid later or on a different schedule. Service Canada requires you to report both the number of hours worked and the gross earnings (before deductions). Reports are due every two weeks. If you realize you made a mistake on a previous report, you should contact Service Canada immediately to correct the record and avoid potential overpayment issues.
If the work changes or ends
Tell Service Canada about a new job, contract or change in your availability through your EI report. The agency may adjust or stop payments while you work. If a short-term job ends, Service Canada says you may be able to reactivate your claim and continue receiving payments, depending on the claim and circumstances. Do not assume that one paycheque permanently closes the claim.
Other money received during an EI claim may be treated differently from ordinary work earnings. Service Canada provides an earnings chart to show whether a payment counts for EI purposes and how it is allocated. Check that chart or ask Service Canada before treating a severance payment, vacation pay or other amount as if it followed the part-time wages example. This article’s calculation only illustrates the official Working While on Claim example.
There is also a specific exception for some employees receiving paid sick leave or wage-loss indemnity through an employer registered in the Premium Reduction Program. Service Canada says those earnings are deducted differently. If that describes your situation, check your claim details before using the standard part-time-work calculation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out a short shift or small amount of work. Report the hours and gross earnings for each week you worked.
- Reporting net pay (after taxes) instead of gross earnings.
- Assuming that a short-term contract automatically ends your eligibility; short contracts may permit reactivation of a claim.
- Believing that all types of income are treated as work earnings; specific rules apply depending on the nature of the income.
Frequently asked questions
- When do I report wages from a part-time shift?
- Report the hours and gross earnings for the week the work happened, even if your employer pays you later. Continue the two-week EI reports for your claim.
- What if I earn more than 90% of my previous weekly earnings?
- Earnings above the 90% cap are deducted from your EI benefit dollar-for-dollar. If your earnings are very high, your EI benefit for that week may be reduced to zero.
- Can I work a full week and still receive EI?
- No. If you work a full week, Service Canada says no EI is payable for that week, regardless of the amount earned. That week does not reduce the total number of weeks payable on your claim.
- I made a mistake on my last report. What should I do?
- Contact Service Canada as soon as possible to amend the report. It is better to correct the record early than to risk having to repay an overpayment later.
- If I start a new job, do I have to stop my EI claim?
- Not necessarily. If you work part-time while looking for other work, you may be able to continue receiving a reduced benefit. You must still report your earnings from the new job every two weeks.
Related guides
For information on EI premium rates and maximums for the current year, see the related article on EI premium rates in Canada 2026. Please note that premium rates and maximums apply to the insurance plan generally and do not determine your individual benefit entitlement or the specific reduction calculations described on this page.
Rules and process basis
Employment and Social Development Canada sets out the Working While on Claim rules. Benefits are reduced by 50 cents for each dollar earned up to 90% of previous weekly earnings; earnings above that cap are deducted dollar-for-dollar. A full week of work makes that week’s EI payment unavailable without reducing the total weeks payable. Service Canada administers the reports and the individual claim.