QPIP (Quebec Parental Insurance Plan) is Quebec''s own parental leave program, separate from federal EI. It provides more generous benefits (up to 75% of income) and includes dedicated paternity leave that other provinces don''t have.

How much does QPIP pay?

QPIP pays 70-75% of your average weekly income under the basic plan, or 75-80% under the special plan (shorter duration). The maximum insurable income is $94,000 (2026), resulting in a maximum benefit of about $1,355/week.

Do Quebec residents use EI for parental leave?

No. Quebec workers do not pay EI premiums for parental benefits and must use QPIP instead. However, Quebec residents still use EI for unemployment, sickness, and caregiving benefits.

How does QPIP compare to EI parental benefits in other provinces?

QPIP is significantly more generous. It pays 70–75% of income (vs EI's 55%), has lower minimum hours required (600 insurable earnings vs EI's 600 insurable hours), includes exclusive paternity leave, and covers self-employed workers automatically. The maximum weekly benefit is also higher at ~$1,355 vs EI's ~$668.

Can self-employed Quebecers get QPIP benefits?

Yes, automatically. Unlike federal EI (which requires voluntary opt-in for self-employed), QPIP coverage is mandatory for all Quebec workers including self-employed. You pay premiums on your net self-employment income and receive the same benefits as employees.

QPIP Quebec Parental Insurance Plan 2026: Up to 75% Income, $1,355/Week Max

QPIP at a Glance

Feature	QPIP (Quebec)	EI Parental (Rest of Canada)
Replacement rate	70-75%	55%
Max weekly benefit	~$1,355	$668
Paternity leave	✅ 5 weeks	❌ None (shared only)
Waiting period	❌ None	1 week
Min earnings required	$2,000	600 hours

QPIP Benefit Plans

Basic Plan (Longer Duration)

Benefit Type	Weeks	Replacement Rate
Maternity (birth parent only)	18 weeks	70%
Paternity (other parent)	5 weeks	70%
Parental (shareable)	32 weeks	70% (7 wks) + 55% (25 wks)
Total available	55 weeks	—

Special Plan (Higher Payment)

Benefit Type	Weeks	Replacement Rate
Maternity (birth parent only)	15 weeks	75%
Paternity (other parent)	3 weeks	75%
Parental (shareable)	25 weeks	75%
Total available	43 weeks	—

Eligibility Requirements

Requirement	Details
Residence	Live in Quebec
Employment	Insurable employment in Quebec
Minimum earnings	$2,000 in the last 52 weeks
Type of work	Employee or self-employed (both covered)
Premium paid	QPIP premiums deducted from pay

Payment Examples (Basic Plan)

Annual Salary	Weekly Benefit (70%)	Monthly (approx)
$40,000	$538	$2,331
$60,000	$808	$3,501
$80,000	$1,077	$4,667
$94,000+	$1,355 (max)	$5,872

How to Apply

Step 1: Register

Create an account at rqap.gouv.qc.ca

Step 2: Choose Your Plan

Select Basic Plan (longer, lower rate) or Special Plan (shorter, higher rate). You cannot change plans once benefits start.

Step 3: Apply Online

Apply up to 6 weeks before expected due date
Submit within 6 months after birth or adoption

Step 4: Receive Benefits

No waiting period (unlike EI)
Direct deposit to your bank account

QPIP vs Federal EI Parental

Feature	QPIP	EI Parental
Who uses it	Quebec residents	Rest of Canada
Replacement rate	70-75% (basic)	55%
Max weekly	~$1,355	$668
Paternity leave	5 weeks exclusive	None (shared parental only)
Self-employed	Mandatory coverage	Optional opt-in
Waiting period	None	1 week

Shareable Parental Benefits

Arrangement	Weeks Available
One parent takes all parental	32 weeks (basic) or 25 weeks (special)
Split between parents	Same total, divided as you choose
Bonus for sharing	Extra weeks if both parents take minimum

Self-Employed Coverage

Feature	QPIP	EI (Self-Employed)
Coverage	Mandatory	Voluntary opt-in
Premium rate	0.878% of income	1.66× employee rate
Benefits	Same as employees	Same as employees

Quebec’s mandatory coverage means all self-employed workers are automatically eligible.

Choosing between the basic and special plan

The choice between the QPIP basic plan and special plan comes down to cash flow vs. total duration:

Factor	Basic plan	Special plan
Total weeks available	55 weeks	43 weeks
Weekly payment rate (maternity)	70%	75%
Best when	Duration is the priority	Higher income replacement is the priority
Higher income earners	May prefer basic plan (more total weeks)	Special plan maximizes weekly payment
Two-parent households	More weeks to share	Fewer weeks but higher pay

You must choose your plan before receiving the first QPIP payment — you cannot switch plans after benefits begin. The selection is made when you apply online through the Retraite Québec portal.

QPIP and taxes

Like EI benefits, QPIP payments are fully taxable income:

Payments are reported on a Relevé 6 (RL-6) slip issued by the Ministère du Travail
Federal income tax and Quebec provincial income tax are both withheld at source
You report QPIP income on your federal T1 and your provincial TP-1
The amount on the RL-6 is included in your income for benefit calculations (CCB, GST credit, QST credit)

If tax withheld was insufficient (for example, if your spouse also had significant income), you may owe a balance at tax time. Consider requesting additional withholding through Retraite Québec if combined household income is high.

How to apply for QPIP

Applications are made online through the Retraite Québec portal at gouv.qc.ca or rqap.gouv.qc.ca:

Create an account at the Retraite Québec online portal
Apply as early as 4 weeks before your expected delivery or adoption date — you cannot receive the first payment until you apply
Submit ROE — your employer submits an ROE, or you provide proof of self-employment income
Processing time: typically 5–10 business days
Receive decision confirming your weekly benefit amount and eligible weeks

Unlike EI, QPIP has no waiting period — payments begin from the first week of eligibility.