Canadian · Employment Insurance
EI maternity & parental.
Federal EI maternity and parental benefits — for claimants outside Quebec. Standard parental pays more per week for fewer weeks; extended pays less per week for longer.
Maternity benefits pay 55% of average weekly earnings for up to 15 weeks, to the birth parent only. Parental benefits are then chosen ONCE, at application, as either standard (up to 40 weeks total between two parents, at 55%) or extended (up to 69 weeks total, at a lower 33%) — and that choice cannot be changed once made.
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Estimated benefit
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Standard vs extended parental, side by side
| Benefit | Rate | Weeks (one parent) | Weeks (total, shared) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 55% | 15 | 15 |
| Standard parental | 55% | 35 | 40 |
| Extended parental | 33% | 61 | 69 |
The standard/extended choice is made once, when you first apply for parental benefits, and it binds both parents for the whole claim — you cannot start on standard and switch to extended partway through. A birth parent typically combines maternity (15 weeks) with parental, for a combined maximum of 55 weeks (standard) or 84 weeks (extended) if claimed alone.
Why this isn't RQAP
Quebec residents do not draw federal EI maternity or parental benefits at all — Quebec runs its own Regime quebecois d'assurance parentale (RQAP/QPIP), funded by a separate premium with its own rates and maximum insurable earnings. Use the RQAP calculator instead if you work in Quebec.
Sources, read 25 September 2026: canada.ca "EI maternity and parental benefits" (benefit types, weeks, rates, and the once-only standard/extended choice), and the same $68,900 2026 maximum insurable earnings already verified for EI regular and sickness benefits elsewhere on this site.
Frequently asked questions
What's the maximum weekly amount in 2026?
$729/week for maternity or standard parental (55% of the $1,325.00 maximum weekly insurable earnings), or about $437.25/week for extended parental (33% of the same cap).
Can both parents claim parental benefits?
Yes — parental benefits (not maternity) can be shared between two parents, up to the total weeks for whichever option (standard or extended) was chosen, with a per-parent cap that leaves some weeks reserved so both can share if they choose to.
Do I need a minimum number of insurable hours?
Yes, the same 600 insurable hours in your qualifying period (usually the last 52 weeks) required for other EI special benefits — a different, lower threshold than EI regular benefits.
Is EI maternity/parental taxable?
Yes. Like all EI benefits it's taxable income, reported on a T4E, with tax withheld at source that may not fully cover what you owe at filing time.
Estimate only — not an application or a decision
This tool estimates from the published EI maternity/parental rate table. It does not model the family supplement, benefit repayment for higher earners, or the exact combined-claim sequencing rules. Only Service Canada can confirm your real entitlement; apply through Service Canada directly.