Maternity and Parental Benefits Calculator

How the EI maternity and parental benefits calculator works

1. 1

   Enter your average insurable weekly earnings

   Service Canada calculates this from your best weeks of insurable earnings in the qualifying period, up to the annual maximum insurable earnings. Enter your average figure to estimate your weekly benefits.

2. 2

   Choose standard or extended parental benefits

   Standard parental benefits pay a higher rate (55%) over fewer weeks (up to 35), while extended parental benefits pay a lower rate (33%) over more weeks (up to 61). The total amount paid out is designed to be roughly similar; the choice affects your weekly cash flow versus the length of leave.

3. 3

   Enter the maternity and parental weeks you plan to claim

   Maternity benefits can be claimed for up to 15 weeks, separately from parental benefits, which follow the standard or extended limits you selected.

4. 4

   Read your weekly benefits and total gross payout

   The calculator shows the weekly maternity benefit, the weekly parental benefit under your chosen option, and the combined total gross benefit across both.

The EI maternity and parental benefit formula

Maternity weekly benefit = lower of (average weekly earnings x 55%, maximum weekly benefit), up to 15 weeks Standard parental weekly benefit = lower of (average weekly earnings x 55%, maximum weekly benefit), up to 35 weeks Extended parental weekly benefit = lower of (average weekly earnings x 33%, maximum extended weekly benefit), up to 61 weeks

• •Maternity benefits are only available to the person who gave birth, while parental benefits can be taken by either parent or shared between them.
• •The standard and extended parental options cannot be changed once the first parental payment has been issued, so the choice should reflect your household's cash-flow needs.
• •A one-week unpaid waiting period typically applies at the start of a claim, similar to other EI benefit types.
• •This calculator estimates the federal EI benefit only; Quebec residents generally use the separate Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead of EI maternity and parental benefits.

Worked example: $1,200 average weekly earnings, standard parental option

A parent has average insurable weekly earnings of $1,200 and claims the full 15 weeks of maternity benefits followed by the full 35 weeks of standard parental benefits.

Average insurable weekly earnings

$1,200.00

Maternity weekly benefit (55%)

$660.00

Maternity weeks claimed

15

Gross maternity benefits

$9,900.00

Standard parental weekly benefit (55%)

$660.00

Parental weeks claimed

35

Gross parental benefits

$23,100.00

Total gross benefits

$33,000.00

Combining the full maternity and standard parental entitlements gives a total gross EI benefit of $33,000.00 over 50 weeks.

EI maternity and parental benefit options

Current federal Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefit parameters. Quebec residents typically use QPIP instead.

Source: Government of Canada, Government of Canada, Government of Canada

What EI maternity and parental benefits require

Maternity and parental benefits are separate entitlements

Maternity benefits (up to 15 weeks) are only available to the birth parent. Parental benefits (standard or extended) are available to either parent and can be shared between both, and are claimed separately from maternity benefits.

The standard/extended choice is locked in once payments start

Once the first parental benefit payment is issued, the family cannot switch between the standard and extended options, so this decision should be made carefully based on the household's income needs during the leave.

A waiting period usually applies

EI benefits, including maternity and parental benefits, typically have a one-week unpaid waiting period at the start of the claim before payments begin.

Quebec residents generally use a different program

Quebec has its own Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), which most Quebec residents use instead of the federal EI maternity and parental benefits calculated here.

Frequently asked questions

How much do EI maternity benefits pay?

EI maternity benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the maximum weekly benefit for the current year, for up to 15 weeks. Only the person who gave birth can claim maternity benefits; a partner would instead claim parental benefits.

What is the difference between standard and extended parental benefits?

Standard parental benefits pay 55% of average weekly earnings for up to 35 weeks, while extended parental benefits pay a lower 33% for up to 61 weeks. The total amount paid out over the full period is designed to be broadly similar between the two options; the choice mainly affects whether you prefer higher weekly payments over a shorter period or lower weekly payments over a longer one.

Can parental benefits be shared between both parents?

Yes. Unlike maternity benefits, which only the birth parent can claim, parental benefits can be taken by either parent or split between both, and sharing can extend the combined maximum weeks available (up to 40 weeks combined under standard, or 69 weeks combined under extended).

Can I switch from standard to extended parental benefits partway through?

No. Once the first parental benefit payment has been issued, the choice between standard and extended is locked in for that claim. This makes it important to decide based on your household's cash-flow needs before starting the claim rather than partway through.

Do Quebec residents use this same EI maternity and parental benefit?

Generally no. Quebec operates its own Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), which most Quebec residents use instead of the federal EI maternity and parental benefits calculated by this tool. Check the QPIP rules separately if you work and reside in Quebec.