Maternity & Parental Leave
EI Calculator
Estimate your EI payments during maternity and parental leave — for birth parents, non-birthing parents, and adoptive parents. Compare standard vs extended leave, add employer top-up amounts, and see a week-by-week income schedule.
Your leave details
EI benefit estimates are based on the 2026 federal EI program. Actual amounts determined by Service Canada. Quebec residents use QPIP — a separate program not covered here. Not financial or legal advice. Terms →
Understanding maternity & parental leave in Canada
How the EI system works for new parents — the key decisions to make before your leave.
Maternity benefits (15 weeks at 55%) are exclusively for the birthing parent to recover from pregnancy and birth. Parental benefits are separate and available to either or both parents after the birth or adoption. You can take both, back to back, for a combined maximum of 55 weeks (standard) or 84 weeks (extended).
Standard: 40 weeks total, 55% replacement rate, max $729/week. Extended: 69 weeks total, 33% replacement rate, max $437/week. The total dollar amount paid out is roughly equivalent — you choose more money per week (standard) or more time off (extended). You cannot change your choice once payments begin.
Both parents can receive parental benefits simultaneously or in sequence. Under standard leave, each parent has 5 weeks reserved that the other cannot claim. Under extended leave, each parent has 8 weeks reserved. Sharing allows both parents to maximize their combined leave time.
Many Canadian employers voluntarily top up EI to 75–100% of salary for a period. This is not legally required but is common in the public sector, finance, tech, and large corporations. Top-up payments are taxable income. Check your employment contract or HR policy before your leave begins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum EI maternity benefit in 2026?
The maximum EI maternity benefit in 2026 is $729 per week, based on the maximum insurable earnings of $68,900. To reach this maximum, your salary must be at least $68,900. Your benefit is calculated as 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings. If you earn $68,900 or more annually, your average weekly insurable earnings are $68,900 ÷ 52 = $1,325/week, and 55% of that is $729. If you earn less, your benefit is 55% of your actual weekly earnings. For extended parental leave, the maximum drops to $437/week (33% rate). These maximums apply to all provinces except Quebec, which uses the QPIP program with higher rates of up to 70%.
Can both parents take leave at the same time?
Yes — both parents can take leave simultaneously, but there are limits to how EI benefits are paid. For standard parental benefits (40 weeks total), both parents can receive benefits at the same time, but the combined total cannot exceed 40 weeks. Neither parent can receive more than 35 weeks individually when sharing. The same principle applies to extended parental leave (69 weeks total, 61 maximum per parent). The birth parent's maternity benefits (15 weeks) are separate and run independently. Many couples choose to overlap the birth parent's maternity leave with the other parent's parental leave so both are home together for the first weeks.
Do I need 600 hours to qualify?
Yes — to qualify for EI maternity and parental benefits, you need at least 600 insurable hours worked in the last 52 weeks (or since your last EI claim, whichever is shorter). This applies regardless of your province or the unemployment rate in your region (unlike regular EI where the hours required vary by region). Insurable hours include time worked for employers who deduct EI premiums from your pay. Self-employed individuals who have registered for EI self-employment benefits may also qualify. Part-time workers, contract workers, and those with multiple jobs all count their hours toward the 600-hour threshold.
How does the EI clawback work for parental leave?
The EI clawback (repayment) applies if your net income in the year you receive benefits exceeds $79,000 in 2026 (the "threshold amount"). If your income exceeds this threshold, you must repay 30% of the lesser of your net EI benefits received or the amount your income exceeds $79,000. For example, if you earned $85,000 and received $15,000 in EI benefits, you exceeded the threshold by $6,000. You would repay 30% × $6,000 = $1,800. This is calculated at tax time and appears on your T1 return. If you are a first-time EI claimant or you previously received regular EI or illness benefits, the clawback threshold may differ. The clawback does not apply to maternity benefits — only to parental benefits.
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