Employment Insurance - Maternity and Parental Benefits

Financial assistance benefit for individuals who are away form work because they are pregnant or have recently given birth or parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child.

EI Maternity Benefits: Available to the person who is away form work due to pregnancy or have recently given birth (biological and surrogate mothers).

• A maximum of 15 weeks of EI maternity benefits is available
• Benefits can be paid as early as 12 weeks before the expected date of birth and not more than 17 weeks after the due date
• The weekly benefit rate is 55% of the claimant's average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount
• Individual claiming maternity benefits may be able to also claim parental benefits

EI Parental Benefits: Available to parents who are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child or children.
There are two options available for receiving parental benefits:

• Standard Parental Benefits:
  • Can be paid for a maximum of 40 weeks and shared by parents but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks
  • Must be claimed within a 52 week period (12 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption
  • The weekly benefit rate is 55% of the claimant's average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount
• Extended Parental Benefits:
  • Can be paid for a maximum of 69 weeks and shared by parents but one parent cannot claim more than 61 weeks
  • Must be claimed within a 78-week period (18 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption
  • The benefit rate is 33% of the claimant's average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount