To all Chairpersons and Members of Employment Insurance Boards of Referees

Subject: Changes to Employment Insurance Maximum Insurable Earnings and Benefit Rate for 2012

We are writing to inform you of changes to the 2012 maximum insurable earnings and benefit rate set for Employment Insurance, which were announced on November 14, 2011, by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) and the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board (CEIFB).

Effective January 1, 2012, the annual maximum insurable earnings will increase to $45,900 from the existing $44,200. As a result, the maximum weekly EI benefit rate will increase to $485 from the current amount of $468.

The EI premium rate for workers will increase to $1.83 for every $100 of salary up to $45,900. The corresponding employer rate will also increase to $2.56. For Quebec, the EI premium rate will be set at $1.47 for workers and $2.06 for employers. This lower premium rate is due to Quebec's delivery of its own parental benefits since January 2006.

For further details view:
the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board (CEIFB) and
the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) announcements of November 14, 2011.