EI maternity and parental benefits provide temporary income when eligible parents stop working or significantly reduce their earnings because of pregnancy, childbirth or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
EI maternity benefits provide up to 15 weeks to the person who is pregnant or recently gave birth. Parental benefits can then provide up to 35 weeks of standard benefits for one parent or up to 61 weeks of extended benefits for one parent.
In 2026, maternity and standard parental benefits pay 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week. Extended parental benefits pay 33%, up to $437 per week.
On This Page:
- 1. Maternity vs. Parental Benefits
- 2. How Much EI Pays in 2026
- 3. Who Qualifies?
- 4. Standard vs. Extended Benefits
- 5. Sharing Benefits Between Parents
- 6. Applying & Working While on EI
What Is the Difference Between EI Maternity and Parental Benefits?
EI maternity benefits are for the person who is pregnant or recently gave birth, while EI parental benefits are for eligible parents caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
EI maternity benefits
Maternity benefits provide:
- Up to 15 weeks of benefits
- 55% of average insurable weekly earnings
- Up to $729 per week in 2026
Maternity benefits can’t be shared with another parent.
They can start as early as 12 weeks before your due date or the date you give birth. They can’t normally be paid more than 17 weeks after your due date or the date of birth, whichever is later.
EI parental benefits
Parental benefits are available to eligible parents of a newborn or newly adopted child.
You choose between:
- Standard parental benefits: Higher weekly payments for a shorter period
- Extended parental benefits: Lower weekly payments for a longer period
The person who receives maternity benefits can then receive parental benefits if they qualify.
For the employment-law rules governing time away from your job, see Maternity Leave Canada and Parental Leave Canada.
How Much Are EI Maternity and Parental Benefits in 2026?
In 2026, maternity and standard parental benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week.
Extended parental benefits pay 33% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $437 per week.
- Maternity: 55% — maximum $729 per week
- Standard parental: 55% — maximum $729 per week
- Extended parental: 33% — maximum $437 per week
These are maximums. Your actual payment depends on your insurable earnings before the claim.
EI benefits are taxable income, so taxes are deducted from your payments.
Can your employer top up maternity or parental EI?
Yes. Some employers provide a maternity or parental leave top-up that supplements EI benefits.
A properly structured employer top-up can be paid without reducing your EI maternity or parental benefits.
Your employer is not automatically required to offer a top-up. The right normally comes from an employment contract, workplace policy or benefit plan.
See our Maternity Leave Top-Up guide for the deeper rules.
Who Qualifies for EI Maternity and Parental Benefits?
Most employees need at least 600 hours of insurable employment in their qualifying period to receive EI maternity or parental benefits.
You also need to show that:
- Your regular weekly employment earnings decreased by more than 40% for at least one week
- You are pregnant or recently gave birth if applying for maternity benefits
- You are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child if applying for parental benefits
The 600 hours are normally counted during the 52 weeks before your claim starts or since the beginning of your last EI claim, whichever period is shorter.
Do you need to work for your employer for a year?
No. EI eligibility is based on insured hours and other EI requirements—not simply whether you have worked for one employer for 12 months.
This is another reason EI benefits and job-protected leave should not be confused. Your province’s maternity or parental leave rules can use different eligibility requirements.
Should You Choose Standard or Extended Parental Benefits?
Standard benefits pay more each week for fewer weeks; extended benefits pay less each week for a longer period.
- Standard: 55% of earnings, up to $729 per week in 2026; one parent can receive up to 35 weeks
- Extended: 33% of earnings, up to $437 per week in 2026; one parent can receive up to 61 weeks
Standard parental benefits must normally be used within 52 weeks of the child’s birth or placement for adoption. Extended benefits must normally be used within 78 weeks.
Can you switch from extended to standard benefits later?
No—not once parental benefits have been paid.
Once a week of parental benefits has been paid to you, or a parental benefit payment has been made to another parent sharing the claim, the standard-versus-extended choice is locked in.
Does taking 18 months of leave mean you automatically get 18 months of EI?
No. Job-protected leave and EI payments are separate.
You can have a legal right to remain away from work even after your EI payments have ended, depending on the maternity and parental leave legislation that applies to you.
Can Parents Share EI Parental Benefits?
Yes. Eligible parents can share parental benefits, and sharing makes additional weeks available to the family.
When parents share:
- Standard: Up to 40 weeks can be shared, but one parent can’t receive more than 35 weeks
- Extended: Up to 69 weeks can be shared, but one parent can’t receive more than 61 weeks
This effectively creates up to five additional standard weeks or eight additional extended weeks that must be taken by the other parent or parents if the family wants to use them.
Do parents have to take EI at different times?
No. Parents can receive parental benefits at the same time or one after another.
Each parent must submit their own application and use the same standard or extended option.
Can adoptive parents receive parental benefits?
Yes. EI parental benefits are available to eligible parents caring for a newly adopted child.
Maternity benefits are different: they are only for the person who is pregnant or recently gave birth.
When Should You Apply for EI Maternity or Parental Benefits?
Apply as soon as possible after you stop working.
Service Canada warns that waiting more than four weeks after your last day of work can cause you to lose benefits.
If you plan to receive both maternity and parental benefits, you can apply for both when you first submit your EI application.
Is there a one-week EI waiting period?
For new EI claims beginning between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026, the usual one-week waiting period is temporarily waived.
Normally, EI has a one-week unpaid waiting period at the beginning of a claim. Unless the temporary measure is extended again, the standard waiting-period rule will apply to later claims where no other waiver applies.
If you receive an employer top-up, there are situations where serving the waiting period can be more advantageous. Check how your particular top-up plan works.
Can you work while receiving maternity or parental EI?
Yes, but your work earnings can reduce your EI benefits.
Under the Working While on Claim rules, EI is normally reduced by 50 cents for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of the weekly earnings used to calculate your benefit. Earnings above that threshold are deducted dollar-for-dollar.
If you work a full week, you aren’t eligible for EI benefits for that week.
Always report work and earnings to Service Canada. Failing to report them can lead to an overpayment that must be repaid.
Can you travel while receiving maternity or parental EI?
Yes. You can continue receiving EI maternity or parental benefits while outside Canada as long as you continue meeting the eligibility requirements.
Does EI Protect Your Job While You’re on Leave?
No. EI itself does not create your job-protected maternity or parental leave.
EI and employment law do different jobs:
- EI: Replaces part of your income while you are away
- Employment standards law: Gives qualifying employees protected time away and return-to-work rights
The amount of EI you choose does not automatically determine how much job-protected leave you have.
When your leave ends, you are normally entitled to important reinstatement protections. See Return to Work After Maternity Leave.
Can your employer fire you because you’re collecting EI maternity benefits?
Your employer can’t terminate or penalize you because you properly take protected maternity or parental leave.
If your job ends while you are away, see our guide to Fired During Maternity Leave.
EI Maternity & Parental Benefits FAQs
How many weeks of EI can a mother receive?
An eligible birth parent can receive up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits plus up to 35 weeks of standard parental benefits or up to 61 weeks of extended parental benefits.
If parental benefits are shared, additional weeks become available to the other parent.
What is the maximum maternity EI payment in 2026?
The maximum EI maternity benefit in 2026 is $729 per week. Standard parental benefits have the same maximum. Extended parental benefits have a maximum of $437 per week.
Are EI maternity and parental benefits taxable?
Yes. EI maternity and parental benefits are taxable income, and tax is deducted from your payments.
Can both parents collect parental EI at the same time?
Yes. Eligible parents can receive parental benefits at the same time, as long as the total number of weeks claimed stays within the sharing rules.
Can self-employed people receive maternity or parental EI?
Self-employed Canadians can qualify for EI special benefits if they have opted into the EI program and meet its eligibility requirements. Separate participation and income rules apply.
Do you need to reapply for parental EI after maternity benefits?
No, if you applied for parental benefits at the same time as your maternity benefits. Service Canada can transition the claim from maternity to parental benefits without a second application.
Get Help With Your Maternity & Parental Leave Rights
EI maternity and parental benefits provide income while you’re away from work. Your employment-law rights protect the job you plan to return to.
Samfiru Tumarkin LLP helps non-unionized employees when employers interfere with maternity or parental leave, refuse reinstatement, change jobs after leave or terminate employment because of pregnancy or leave.
If your employer has changed or ended your employment during maternity or parental leave, our employment lawyers can protect your rights and secure the full severance pay and compensation you are legally entitled to receive.