How much do you get for EI maternity leave in Canada?

EI maternity benefits pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to a maximum of about $668/week (2025). The maximum annual benefit is approximately $34,000 for standard parental leave.

How long can you take parental leave in Canada?

You can take up to 15 weeks of maternity leave plus up to 35 weeks of standard parental leave (40 weeks if shared) or 61 weeks of extended parental leave (69 weeks if shared).

Can both parents take parental leave in Canada?

Yes, both parents can share parental benefits. Standard gives 40 weeks if shared (35 if not), extended gives 69 weeks shared (61 if not). Each parent must take at least 5-8 weeks to access the extra weeks.

How much will I actually receive on maternity leave in Canada?

EI pays 55% of your average insured earnings up to ~$668/week (2025 max). For someone earning $60,000/year, that works out to about $1,923/month after tax — roughly 38% of your pre-leave take-home pay. Many employers offer a top-up to 75–95% of salary for 15–17 weeks. Check your employer benefits before going on leave.

EI Maternity and Parental Benefits Canada 2026 | Amounts, Duration & How to Apply

EI Maternity and Parental Benefits Overview

Benefit Type	Duration	Rate	Max Weekly
Maternity	15 weeks	55%	~$668
Standard parental	35-40 weeks	55%	~$668
Extended parental	61-69 weeks	33%	~$401

Maternity Benefits

Eligibility

Requirement	Details
Who can claim	Birth mother only
Hours required	600 insurable hours in past 52 weeks
Timing	Can start up to 12 weeks before due date
Must stop working	Cannot receive while working

Benefit Details

Factor	Amount
Duration	15 weeks
Benefit rate	55% of average weekly earnings
Maximum weekly	~$668 (2025)
Maximum 15 weeks	~$10,020
Waiting period	1 week (can use vacation)

When to Start

Option	Pros	Cons
Up to 12 weeks before	Rest before birth	Fewer weeks after
1-2 weeks before	Balance	Some rest
After birth	Maximum time with baby	No pre-birth rest

Most birth parents start 1-2 weeks before due date.

Parental Benefits

Standard vs Extended

Feature	Standard	Extended
Duration (one parent)	35 weeks	61 weeks
Duration (shared)	40 weeks	69 weeks
Benefit rate	55%	33%
Max weekly	~$668	~$401
Total max (one parent)	~$23,380	~$24,461

Who Can Claim

Eligible Parent	Details
Birth parent	After maternity leave
Other parent	From baby’s birth/placement
Adoptive parents	Both eligible
Same-sex parents	Both eligible

Shared Weeks	Requirement
Standard: 5 extra weeks	Each parent takes 5+ weeks
Extended: 8 extra weeks	Each parent takes 8+ weeks

Encourages both parents to take leave.

Total Leave Options

Birth Parent Only

Option	Maternity	Parental	Total
Standard	15 weeks	35 weeks	50 weeks
Extended	15 weeks	61 weeks	76 weeks

Option	Maternity	Parental	Total
Standard shared	15 weeks	40 weeks	55 weeks
Extended shared	15 weeks	69 weeks	84 weeks

Benefit Calculation

How Benefits Are Calculated

Step	Calculation
1. Find best 14-22 weeks	Highest earning weeks
2. Calculate average	Total ÷ weeks
3. Apply rate	55% (standard) or 33% (extended)
4. Cap at maximum	~$668 or ~$401/week

Example Calculations

Annual Salary	Weekly Earnings	Standard (55%)	Extended (33%)
$50,000	$962	$529	$317
$63,200 (max)	$1,215	$668 (max)	$401 (max)
$75,000	$1,442	$668 (max)	$401 (max)
$100,000	$1,923	$668 (max)	$401 (max)

Total Benefits (50 Weeks Standard)

Salary	Maternity (15 wks)	Parental (35 wks)	Total
$50,000	$7,935	$18,515	$26,450
$63,200+	$10,020	$23,380	$33,400

Employer Top-Up

What Top-Up Means

Component	Description
EI benefits	55% of earnings
Employer top-up	Often to 75-100%
Taxable	Yes, both portions
Varies widely	No legal requirement

Top-Up Examples

Employer Policy	EI (55%)	Top-Up	Total %
No top-up	$529/week	$0	55%
Top to 75%	$529/week	$192	75%
Top to 93%	$529/week	$365	93%
Top to 100%	$529/week	$433	100%

Note: Some employers top-up for limited weeks (e.g., 17 weeks).

Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP)

Different System for Quebec

Feature	QPIP	EI (Rest of Canada)
Maternity	18 weeks at 70%	15 weeks at 55%
Paternity	5 weeks at 70%	None (use parental)
Parental	32 weeks at 70%	35-40 weeks at 55%
Self-employed	Covered	Opt-in only
Max earnings	Higher cap	$63,200

Quebec residents generally receive more generous benefits.

Self-Employed

Opting Into EI

Requirement	Details
Register	Before December 31 of prior year
Wait	1 year before eligible
Premiums	Pay employee portion only
Can’t opt out	Once collected benefits

Is It Worth It?

Situation	Recommendation
Planning pregnancy within 1-2 years	May be worth it
High self-employed income	Calculate benefit vs cost
Low income	Likely not worth it
Quebec resident	Use QPIP (mandatory)

How to Apply

Before Applying

Task	Timing
Get Record of Employment (ROE)	Employer issues when you stop
Gather documents	SIN, bank info, medical
Know your hours	600 hours minimum

Application Process

Step	Action
1	Apply online at canada.ca
2	Submit ROE (often electronic)
3	Complete biweekly reports
4	First payment in ~28 days

Timing Your Application

Situation	When to Apply
Before birth	No earlier than 12 weeks before
After birth	Within 4 weeks
Late application	Can backdate, but act quickly

Tax Implications

EI Benefits are Taxable

Consideration	Details
Federal tax	Deducted at source
Provincial tax	Deducted at source
Tax slip	T4E issued
May owe more	If income was high part of year

Reducing Tax Shock

Strategy	How
Request more tax deducted	Service Canada form
Set aside money	For tax time
Adjust other income	RRSP contributions
Child benefit	CCB is tax-free

RRSP Strategies

While on Leave

Strategy	Benefit
Use RRSP room	Lower taxable income
Withdraw from spousal RRSP	Lower-income year
Don’t over-contribute	Lower income year anyway

After Leave

Strategy	Benefit
Catch up RRSP room	Within 60 days of next year
Use tax refund	For childcare costs

Working While on EI

Earnings and Clawback

Earnings	Impact
0% to 50% of weekly benefit	Keep 50 cents per dollar
Above 50%	Clawback increases
$75 or 25% (whichever higher)	Can earn without clawback

Example

Scenario	Calculation
Weekly EI benefit	$500
Earned from work	$200
50% threshold	$250
Clawback	$0 (under threshold)
Total income	$700

Maximizing Benefits

Strategies

Strategy	Impact
Both parents share	Extra 5-8 weeks
Standard vs extended	More total money (standard)
Time off-peak	Avoid slow season
Employer top-up	Ask during hiring/before leave
CCB registration	Automatic but verify

Standard vs Extended Calculator

Factor	Standard (50 wks)	Extended (76 wks)
Total EI	~$33,400	~$30,400
Monthly income	$2,680	$1,600
Childcare start	12 months	18 months
Childcare savings	~$18,000	~$27,000

Extended may save more on daycare.