How much do you get on maternity leave in Canada?

EI maternity benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of approximately $695 per week (2026). The maximum insurable earnings are $65,700 per year. Maternity benefits are available to the birth parent for up to 15 weeks.

What is the difference between standard and extended parental leave?

Standard parental leave provides 55% of earnings for up to 35 weeks (40 weeks shared between parents). Extended parental leave provides 33% of earnings for up to 61 weeks (69 weeks shared). The total benefit amount is roughly the same — extended leave just spreads it over more weeks at a lower weekly rate.

How long is maternity leave in Canada?

EI maternity benefits last up to 15 weeks and are available only to the birth parent. These can be combined with parental leave for a total of up to 50 weeks (standard) or 76 weeks (extended) of paid leave. There is a one-week waiting period before benefits begin.

What is QPIP and how is it different from EI?

The Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) is Quebec exclusive program that provides higher benefits than federal EI. QPIP maternity benefits pay 70% of earnings for 18 weeks (vs 55% for 15 weeks under EI). QPIP also has a higher maximum insurable income ($94,000 vs $65,700), no waiting period, and separate paternity benefits.

Do I qualify for maternity leave benefits?

To qualify for EI maternity benefits outside Quebec, you need at least 600 insurable hours in the 52 weeks before your claim. You must have experienced a decrease in earnings of more than 40%. You must be the birth parent. In Quebec, QPIP requires $2,000 in insurable earnings in the 52-week qualifying period.

What is an employer top-up?

An employer top-up is supplemental pay your employer provides on top of EI benefits to bring your total income closer to your regular salary. A common top-up is 93-95% of salary, meaning the employer pays the difference between EI (55%) and 93-95%. Top-ups are more common for government employees, teachers, and unionized workers.

Are maternity and parental benefits taxable?

Yes. EI maternity and parental benefits are fully taxable income. Tax is withheld at source, but the withholding rate may be insufficient — you may owe additional tax at filing time. Plan for this by setting aside extra funds or asking for increased withholding.

Can both parents take parental leave?

Yes. Parental leave can be shared between both parents. Under standard parental, there are 40 total weeks available with a maximum of 35 weeks for one parent. Under extended, there are 69 total weeks with a maximum of 61 weeks for one parent. This ensures each parent has access to at least 5 or 8 weeks respectively.

Maternity & Parental Leave Calculator

The maternity and parental leave calculator estimates your weekly and total benefit payments during pregnancy and parental leave in Canada. Whether you are covered by EI or Quebec’s QPIP, this tool shows what to expect financially during this important life transition.

How this maternity leave calculator works

Enter your weekly insurable earnings (or annual salary), select your leave type, choose your province, and optionally add an employer top-up percentage. The calculator displays your weekly benefit, leave duration, total benefits, and income replacement percentage.

Leave options:

Maternity only (15 weeks) — Birth parent only, 55% of earnings
Standard parental (35 weeks) — 55% of earnings, either parent
Extended parental (61 weeks) — 33% of earnings, either parent
Maternity + Standard — Combined 50 weeks
Maternity + Extended — Combined 76 weeks

Estimated Weekly Benefit

Weekly Insurable Earnings

EI Benefit Rate

Maximum Insurable Earnings (2025)

Weekly EI Benefit

Employer Top-Up (weekly)

Total Weekly Income

Leave Duration

Total Benefits (before tax)

Income Replacement %

Note: EI maternity and parental benefits are taxable income. A one-week waiting period applies before benefits begin (not included in totals above). Quebec residents receive benefits through QPIP instead of EI.

EI maternity and parental benefits at a glance (2026)

Benefit Type	Duration	Rate	Max Weekly Benefit
Maternity	15 weeks	55%	~$695
Standard Parental	35 weeks (per parent max)	55%	~$695
Extended Parental	61 weeks (per parent max)	33%	~$417

Maximum insurable earnings: $65,700/year ($1,263/week) Waiting period: 1 week (no benefits)

QPIP vs EI comparison

Feature	EI (Outside Quebec)	QPIP (Quebec)
Maternity benefits	15 weeks at 55%	18 weeks at 70%
Max insurable income	$65,700	$94,000
Waiting period	1 week	None
Paternity benefits	None (use parental)	5 weeks at 70%
Parental (basic)	35 weeks at 55%	32 weeks (7@70% + 25@55%)
Parental (extended)	61 weeks at 33%	32 weeks at 55%

Quebec parents generally receive significantly higher benefits than the rest of Canada, especially high earners due to the $94,000 insurable cap.

Planning your finances for parental leave

Before leave

Build a buffer — Save 2-3 months of extra expenses to cover the income gap
Check your employer’s top-up policy — Some employers top up EI to 93-95% of salary
Review your benefits — Health insurance, dental, and pension contributions during leave
Apply early — File your EI claim as soon as possible after your last working day

During leave

Your income drops to 55% (or 33% for extended) — budget accordingly
Consider whether standard (higher weekly, shorter) or extended (lower weekly, longer) better suits your situation
Remember that EI benefits are taxable — set aside extra for tax season

Financial impact comparison

Example: $80,000 salary ($1,538/week)

Scenario	Weekly Benefit	Total Benefits	Income Loss
Maternity only (15 weeks)	$695	$10,425	$12,645
Mat + Standard (50 weeks)	$695	$34,750	$42,150
Mat + Extended (76 weeks)	$695 mat / $417 ext	$35,862	$81,050

Extended leave provides roughly the same total money as standard but spreads it over 26 additional weeks, resulting in a longer but lower income period.

Employer top-ups by sector

Sector	Typical Top-Up	Duration
Federal government	93% of salary	15-18 weeks
Provincial government	93% of salary	15-26 weeks
Teachers (many boards)	90-93% of salary	8-17 weeks
Universities	85-95% of salary	15-35 weeks
Unionized private sector	Varies (75-95%)	6-17 weeks
Non-unionized private	Rare (if any)	—
Small business	Generally none	—

If your employer offers a top-up, the financial impact of parental leave is much more manageable.

EI Calculator — Estimate Employment Insurance benefits for job loss
Salary Calculator — Calculate your regular take-home pay
Budget Calculator — Plan a reduced-income budget during leave
Emergency Fund Calculator — Determine how much to save before leave
Savings Goal Calculator — Set a savings target for leave preparation
Income Tax Calculator — Estimate tax on EI benefits