How do EI maternity and parental benefits work in Canada?
<strong>Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental benefits provide temporary income to eligible Canadian workers who take time off for pregnancy, childbirth, or to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.</strong> The two benefit types are distinct: maternity benefits are available only to the birth parent, while parental benefits can be shared between both parents.
EI maternity benefits replace 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $668 per week in 2025. The maximum insurable earnings are $65,700 per year. Maternity benefits can be paid for up to 15 weeks, starting as early as 12 weeks before the expected due date.
There is a mandatory 1-week waiting period before EI benefits begin, during which you receive no payment. This waiting period is served only once even if you transition from maternity to parental benefits. Some employers offer to pay the waiting period as part of their top-up plan.
To qualify for EI maternity or parental benefits, you must have accumulated at least 600 insurable hours of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim (or since your last claim, whichever is shorter).
Standard vs extended parental leave
<strong>Canadian parents outside Quebec can choose between two options for EI parental benefits: standard or extended.</strong> The total payout is designed to be roughly equivalent, but spread over different time periods.
Standard parental benefits pay 55% of your insurable earnings for up to 35 weeks. One parent can take all 35 weeks, or both parents can share them. In total, the maximum combined weeks between both parents is 40 weeks (including the 5-week sharing incentive).
Extended parental benefits pay 33% of your insurable earnings for up to 61 weeks. The lower weekly rate extends the benefit over a longer period. The maximum combined weeks between both parents is 69 weeks (including the 8-week sharing incentive).
You must choose between standard and extended before your first parental benefit payment. Once you start receiving parental benefits, you cannot switch between the two options. The choice depends on your financial situation and how long you plan to be away from work.
| Feature | Standard parental | Extended parental |
|---|---|---|
| Benefit rate | 55% of insurable earnings | 33% of insurable earnings |
| Maximum weeks (one parent) | 35 weeks | 61 weeks |
| Maximum weeks (shared) | 40 weeks | 69 weeks |
| Max weekly benefit | $668/week | $401/week |
| Total max payout (one parent) | ~$23,380 | ~$24,461 |
| Must be taken within | 52 weeks of birth/placement | 78 weeks of birth/placement |
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)
<strong>Quebec residents receive maternity and parental benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead of EI.</strong> QPIP generally offers higher replacement rates, covers self-employed workers, and has no waiting period.
Under the QPIP basic plan, maternity benefits pay 70% of your average weekly insurable earnings for 18 weeks. This is significantly more generous than EI's 55% for 15 weeks. The maximum insurable earnings under QPIP are also higher at $94,000 per year compared to EI's $65,700.
QPIP parental benefits under the basic plan are paid in two tiers: 70% for the first 7 weeks and 55% for the remaining 25 weeks, totaling 32 weeks of parental benefits. Both parents combined can receive up to 32 weeks of parental benefits.
QPIP also offers a special plan with a shorter duration but higher rates: 75% for 15 weeks of maternity and 75% for 25 weeks of parental benefits. Self-employed workers in Quebec are covered by QPIP (they are not eligible for EI maternity/parental benefits in other provinces).
| Benefit type | QPIP basic plan | EI (rest of Canada) |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity rate | 70% for 18 weeks | 55% for 15 weeks |
| Parental rate | 70% for 7 wks + 55% for 25 wks | 55% for 35 wks (standard) |
| Waiting period | None | 1 week |
| Max insurable earnings | $94,000/year | $65,700/year |
| Self-employed coverage | Yes | No |
| Total max maternity + parental weeks | 50 weeks | 50 weeks (standard) |
Employer maternity leave top-up plans
<strong>Many Canadian employers offer supplemental unemployment benefit (SUB) plans that top up EI or QPIP maternity and parental benefits.</strong> A top-up plan pays the difference between your government benefit and a target percentage of your regular salary.
For example, if your employer offers a 95% top-up and your EI benefit replaces 55% of your salary, your employer pays the remaining 40%. This means you receive 95% of your regular income during leave instead of just 55%.
Top-up plans are more common in the public sector, unionized workplaces, and large corporations. According to various surveys, roughly 20-30% of Canadian employers offer some form of maternity/parental leave top-up. The duration typically covers the maternity period (15-18 weeks) and sometimes a portion of the parental leave period.
Employer top-up payments do not reduce your EI benefits as long as the employer registers a SUB plan with Service Canada. Without a registered SUB plan, employer payments would be treated as earnings and deducted from your EI benefits dollar-for-dollar.
Worked example: $1,000/week earner on standard parental leave
Consider a birth parent in Ontario earning $1,000 per week gross ($52,000/year) who takes the full 15 weeks of maternity leave followed by 35 weeks of standard parental leave, with no employer top-up.
Weekly EI maternity benefit: $1,000 x 55% = $550/week (below the $668 maximum). Weekly EI parental benefit (standard): $1,000 x 55% = $550/week. There is a 1-week waiting period with $0 in benefits.
Total maternity benefits: $550 x 15 = $8,250. Total parental benefits: $550 x 35 = $19,250. Total government benefits: $27,500. Total leave duration: 1 (waiting) + 15 (maternity) + 35 (parental) = 51 weeks.
Equivalent working income over 51 weeks: $1,000 x 51 = $51,000. Income replacement rate: $27,500 / $51,000 = 53.9%. This means the parent receives about 54% of what they would have earned working for the same period.
If the employer offered a 75% top-up, the employer would pay $750 - $550 = $200/week during the benefit weeks, plus $750 for the waiting week. Total employer top-up: $200 x 50 + $750 = $10,750. Total income during leave: $27,500 + $10,750 = $38,250 (75% replacement rate).
Who is eligible for EI maternity and parental benefits?
<strong>To qualify for EI maternity or parental benefits, you must be an employed worker who has accumulated at least 600 insurable hours in the qualifying period.</strong> The qualifying period is typically the 52 weeks before the start of your claim.
Both employed and some self-employed workers can receive EI parental benefits, but self-employed workers must have opted into the EI program at least 12 months before claiming and earned at least $8,593 in self-employment income in the calendar year before the claim.
Maternity benefits are available only to the birth parent. Parental benefits can be claimed by either parent (birth parent, other parent, or adoptive parents). Both parents can share parental benefits between them, and there is a sharing incentive that adds extra weeks when both parents claim.
You cannot receive EI maternity or parental benefits while receiving other EI benefits (such as regular benefits or sickness benefits) for the same period. However, you can transition between EI benefit types, for example from sickness benefits to maternity benefits.
Financial planning for parental leave
<strong>Planning ahead for the income reduction during parental leave can significantly reduce financial stress.</strong> Since most parents will see their income drop to 55% or less of their regular earnings, building a financial buffer before going on leave is important.
Start by calculating your expected monthly shortfall: subtract your projected monthly EI/QPIP benefits (plus any employer top-up) from your current monthly expenses. Multiply this shortfall by the number of months you plan to be on leave. This is the minimum amount you should save in advance.
Consider adjusting your budget during leave. Some expenses decrease (commuting, work clothes, lunches out), while others increase (baby supplies, diapers, potential childcare for older children). Many new parents find their total expenses decrease slightly during leave despite the new baby costs.
If you have access to a line of credit or TFSA savings, these can serve as emergency buffers. However, avoid relying on high-interest credit card debt to bridge the income gap. The income reduction is temporary, and the goal is to emerge from parental leave without significant new debt.
Frequently asked questions
How much is EI maternity leave pay in Canada in 2025?
EI maternity benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $668 per week in 2025. The maximum insurable earnings are $65,700 per year. If you earn more than this, your benefit is capped at the maximum. Maternity benefits are available for up to 15 weeks.
What is the difference between maternity and parental leave benefits?
Maternity benefits are available only to the birth parent for up to 15 weeks and cover the period around childbirth. Parental benefits are available to either parent (birth, adoptive, or other parent) for up to 35 weeks (standard) or 61 weeks (extended) and cover the period spent caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. Both pay 55% of insurable earnings (standard) but parental extended pays 33%.
Can both parents receive parental leave benefits at the same time?
Yes, both parents can receive EI parental benefits simultaneously. They can share the parental benefit weeks between them. There is also a sharing incentive: if both parents claim parental benefits, 5 extra weeks are available (standard) or 8 extra weeks (extended). The total combined maximum is 40 weeks (standard) or 69 weeks (extended).
Is there a waiting period for EI maternity benefits?
Yes, there is a mandatory 1-week waiting period before EI maternity or parental benefits begin. During this week, you do not receive any EI payment. The waiting period is served only once, so if you transition from maternity to parental benefits, you do not serve a second waiting period. Some employers pay the waiting period as part of their top-up plan.
How does Quebec QPIP differ from EI maternity benefits?
QPIP offers higher benefit rates (70% for maternity vs 55% for EI), a longer maternity period (18 weeks vs 15), no waiting period, higher maximum insurable earnings ($94,000 vs $65,700), and coverage for self-employed workers. Quebec residents are covered by QPIP instead of EI for maternity and parental benefits.
Can self-employed workers get maternity leave benefits?
In Quebec, self-employed workers are automatically covered by QPIP and can receive maternity and parental benefits. Outside Quebec, self-employed workers can opt into the EI program to receive special benefits (including maternity and parental), but they must register at least 12 months before claiming and have earned at least $8,593 in self-employment income in the previous year.
What is an employer maternity leave top-up?
An employer top-up is a supplemental payment that bridges the gap between your EI/QPIP benefits and your regular salary. For example, if your employer tops up to 75% and EI pays 55%, the employer pays the remaining 20%. Top-ups are offered through Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plans registered with Service Canada, and they do not reduce your EI benefits.
How many hours do I need to qualify for EI maternity benefits?
You need at least 600 insurable hours of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim. This is equivalent to about 15 weeks of full-time work (40 hours/week). Part-time workers can also qualify as long as they accumulate 600 hours over the qualifying period.
Can I work while receiving EI maternity or parental benefits?
Yes, you can earn up to $150 per week or 25% of your weekly benefit (whichever is higher) while on EI maternity or parental leave without affecting your benefits. Earnings above this threshold are deducted dollar-for-dollar from your EI payment. This is called the Working While on Claim provision.
When should I apply for EI maternity benefits?
You should apply for EI maternity benefits as soon as you stop working, even if your employer has not yet issued your Record of Employment (ROE). You can apply up to 12 weeks before your expected due date. Delays in applying can result in lost benefits since you cannot be paid retroactively beyond the application date.