Employment Insurance (EI) and maternity, parental and sickness benefits
The new Quebec parental insurance plan
Who is eligible?
Qualifying period
How, where and when to apply
What information/documents are needed to apply?
When will you receive your first payment?
A 2-week waiting period to serve
How long can you receive maternity and parental benefits?
You have received sickness benefits before or after your maternity benefits!
You do not have to fill out reports during maternity and/or parental benefits
In order to get paid...
You wish to obtain information about your EI Insurance claim
Working while on maternity, parental and sickness benefits
Various types of earnings
How much will you receive?
Compassionate care benefits
Maternity benefits
Termination of a pregnancy
Parental benefits
Parental benefits when your child is hospitalized
Sickness benefits
After receiving maternity, parental or sickness benefits
Disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits combined with regular benefits
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits when you are out of the country
Repayment of benefits at income tax time
Your rights and responsibilities
Appealing a decision
The new Quebec parental insurance plan
Since January 1st, 2006, the Province of Quebec is responsible for providing maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits to residents of Quebec. To know more...
All other types of EI benefits, such as sickness benefits, remain available to residents of Quebec.
Please note that EI maternity and parental benefits continue to be available in all other Canadian provinces and territories.
Who is eligible?
To be entitled to maternity, parental or sickness benefits you must show that:
- your regular weekly earnings have been decreased by more than 40%; and
-
you have accumulated 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. This period is called the qualifying period.
If you have been paid EI benefits in the past and you received a written notice, for example, a warning letter or a penalty letter, for making a false statement, the required number of hours worked to claim maternity, parental and sickness benefits will be higher. To know more...
Qualifying period
The qualifying period is the shorter of:
- the 52 week-period immediately before the start date of a claim, or
- the period since the start of a previous EI claim if that claim had started during the 52 week-period.
In certain situations, the qualifying period may be extended up to 104 weeks. To know more...
How, where and when to apply
To receive maternity, parental or sickness benefits you must submit an EI application on-line or in person to your Service Canada Centre. You should apply as soon as you stop working, even if you receive or will receive money when you become unemployed.
You must request your Record of Employment (ROE) from your last employer. If you have your ROE from your last employer, apply immediately. If you did not receive your last ROE, submit your application along with proof of employment — for example, pay stubs. If one or more ROE covering periods prior to your last employment are missing, you must still submit your claim for benefits.
If getting your ROE is a problem, your Service Canada Centre can help you. You will have to fill out a form "Request for Record of Employment" explaining what efforts you have made to obtain it. You will have to provide proof of your employment, such as: pay stubs, cancelled pay cheques, T4 slip, work schedules. If possible, we will use the proof to calculate your claim.
Delaying in filing your claim for benefits beyond 4 weeks from the time your earnings have decreased by more than 40% may cause loss of benefits.
At the same time you are applying for maternity benefits, you and your partner can also apply for parental benefits.
What information/documents are needed to apply?
- your Social Insurance Number (SIN). If your SIN begins with a 9, you need to supply proof of your immigration status and work permit.
- a Record of Employment (ROE) from each job held over the last 52 weeks. If you do not have your ROE after 14 days from your last day of work, you must submit proof of employment such as pay stubs;
- personal identification such as your driver's licence, birth certificate or passport if you are applying in person;
- your complete bank information, as shown on your cheque or bank statement or a voided personalized blank cheque from your current account. This will ensure that your payment of benefits will be made directly to your bank account with Direct Deposit;
- a medical certificate indicating how long your illness is expected to last, if you are claiming sickness benefits;
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the expected or actual date of birth of your child, if you are claiming maternity benefits;
- your newborn's date of birth, or, when there is an adoption, your child's date of placement, if you are claiming parental benefits. In the case of an adoption, you also need to provide the name and full address of the agency handling the adoption;
- your detailed version of facts if you have quit or have been dismissed from any job in the last 52 weeks;
- details regarding your most recent employment: Your total salary before deductions including tips and commissions, your salary before deductions for your last week of work — from Sunday to your last day worked, gross amounts received or to be received, such as: vacation pay, severance pay, pension, pay in lieu of notice or lay off and other monies.
When will you receive your first payment?
If we have all the required information and if you qualify for benefits, your payment will be issued usually within 28 days from the date of filing your claim. If you do not qualify, we will notify you of the decision made on your claim.
A 2-week waiting period to serve
You must serve a 2-week unpaid waiting period before your EI benefits begin to be paid. Generally, this period is the first 2 weeks of your claim. This is like a deductible for any kind of insurance. On the other hand, if you reopen a claim for benefits in which you have already served a 2-week waiting period, you do not serve another 2-week waiting period.
Earnings, for example,vacation pay, severance pay... made or allocated during the 2-week waiting period will be deducted in the first 3 weeks for which benefit is otherwise payable following the waiting period.
In some instances, the 2-week waiting period may be waived or deferred, but only under certain circumstances, for examples:
- If you get paid sick leave pay from your employer following your last day worked, the waiting period may be waived;
- If parental benefits are being shared by the both parents, only one waiting period needs to be served. For example, if a 2-week waiting period has already been served for maternity benefits by the first parent, the second parent claiming parental benefits can have the waiting period deferred. In the event the second parent subsequently claims regular or sickness benefits after parental benefits, the 2-week waiting period would then need to be served.
- If you receive group insurance payments, you can serve the 2-week waiting period during the last two weeks that these insurance payments are being paid.
How long can you receive maternity and parental benefits?
A combination of maternity and parental benefits can be received up to a combined maximum of 50 weeks.
You have received sickness benefits before or after your maternity benefits!
You could receive up to a maximum of 65 weeks of combined sickness, maternity and parental benefits instead of the normal combined maximum of 50 weeks. In order to be eligible for the increased number of weeks, the following conditions must be met during your benefit period:
- you have not been paid regular or fishing benefits ;
- you have been paid sickness, maternity and parental benefits; and
- you have been paid less than the maximum of 15 weeks of sickness benefits or less than 35 weeks of parental benefits. See examples.
Number of weeks paid in your benefit period: 15 sickness + 15 maternity + 20 parental = 50 weeks. You could receive 15 more weeks of parental benefits because during your benefit period:
- you have not been paid regular or fishing benefits;
- you have been paid sickness, maternity and parental benefits and you have not received the maximum number of weeks of parental benefits.
In this example, the new combined maximum benefits would be 65 weeks.
Number of weeks paid in your benefit period: 10 sickness + 15 maternity + 25 parental = 50 weeks. You could receive 10 more weeks of parental benefits because during your benefit period:
- you have not been paid regular or fishing benefits;
- you have been paid sickness, maternity and parental benefits and you have not received the maximum number of weeks of parental benefits.
In this example, the new combined maximum benefits would be 60 weeks.
Number of weeks paid in your benefit period: 15 maternity + 35 parental = 50 weeks.
If you become ill after your parental benefits, no sickness benefit can be paid because you did not receive all these types of benefits during your benefit period: sickness, maternity and parental.
You do not have to fill out reports during maternity and/or parental benefits
If you are applying for maternity and/or parental benefits, you do not have to complete reports in order to receive your payments. To do this, you must sign a declaration of exemption at the time of applying.
In order to get paid...
A payment cannot be issued to you without a completed claimant's report. If you are applying for maternity and/or parental benefits and have chosen not to complete reports, your payments will be made directly to your bank account with Direct Deposit.
However, shortly after applying for sickness benefits, you will receive a Benefit statement in the mail indicating your Access code and the date your first claimant's report is due. Keep in mind that this does not mean that a decision has been made yet on your claim.
Along with your Benefit statement you will also receive instructions on how to complete your report with our Internet reporting service or our Telephone reporting service. If you cannot complete your claimant's reports by Internet or by telephone, you will need to complete and mail them to us. To find out how to complete your claimant's report by mail, just follow these step-by-step instructions.
You wish to get information about your EI insurance claim
If you have a current or previous claim for EI benefits, you can with our Internet service My Employment Insurance (EI) Information on-line:
- View and update your personal information including your mailing address, telephone number and banking information for direct deposit.
- View your current EI claim information.
- View payment information on your current claim including deduction details.
- View your previous claims for EI benefits.
Please note, if your bank account information changes or if you move, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. You can update your mailing address, telephone number and direct deposit information by using My Employment Insurance (EI) Information on-line.
You can also obtain information about your EI claim by calling our telephone information service 1 800 206-7218 and choosing Option 1.
Working while on maternity, parental and sickness benefits
If you work while on maternity or sickness benefits, your earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.
On the other hand, if you work while on parental benefits you can earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher. Any monies earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits. However, effective December 11, 2005, if you are living in one of the 23 participating economic regions, the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving EI benefits is the greater of $75 or 40 % of weekly benefits. To know more...
You must, of course, report any earnings you make while collecting maternity, sickness or parental benefits. If you chose not to complete reports, you must declare your earnings by calling our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre to report your earnings.
Tip: Use the reporting calendar — PDF 11 kb — to keep track of your earnings and hours worked. About PDF Files.
Various types of earnings
Earnings paid or payable by your employer at the end of your employment or while you are receiving benefits, generally affect payment of your benefits. To know more...
How much will you receive?
The basic benefit rate is 55% of your average insured earnings up to a maximum amount of $413 per week. Your EI payment is a taxable income, meaning federal and provincial or territorial taxes, if it applies, will be deducted from your payment. To find out how we calculate the amount you will receive...
If your benefit rate is less than $413 and you are in a low-income family — net income up to a maximum of $25,921 per year — with children and you or your spouse receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) 
, you could be entitled to the Family Supplement.
Compassionate care benefits
Compassionate care benefits are paid to persons who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill with a significant risk of death.
When compassionate care benefits are combined with maternity, parental and sickness benefits, you can received up to a combined maximum of 71 weeks. Certains conditions apply. If you are in that situation and want to know more, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write to us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre.
To know more about Compassionate care benefits...
Maternity benefits
Maternity benefits are payable to the birth mother or surrogate mother for a maximum of 15 weeks. To receive maternity benefits you are required to have worked for 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. You need to prove your pregnancy by signing a statement declaring the expected due or actual date of birth.
The mother can start collecting maternity benefits either up to 8 weeks before she is expected to give birth or at the week she gives birth. Maternity benefits can be collected within 17 weeks of the actual or expected week of birth, whichever is later. Please note that the date you file your claim is very important in order for you to receive the maximum maternity benefits you are entitled to. If you are unsure about your most advantageous maternity period to receive maximum benefits, please contact us. If the actual date of birth is different from the expected date of birth, it is very important that you provide this date as soon as possible after the birth of your child. Please contact us at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre. This way we will be able to determine the most advantageous maternity period, in order to receive the maximum maternity benefits you are entitled to.
If your baby is hospitalized, then the 17 week limit can be extended for every week your child is in the hospital up to 52 weeks — following the week of the child's birth. You will still receive benefits for a maximum of 15 weeks, but payments can be delayed until your child comes home. However, if you received maternity benefits prior to the birth and wanted to receive the remaining benefits when your child comes home, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre to have the necessary adjustment done to your claim.
The weekly EI payment and the number of weeks to be paid remain the same even if you give birth to more than one child at the same time.
At the same time you present a claim for maternity benefits, yourself or/and partner can ask for parental benefits.
Termination of a pregnancy
When a pregnancy terminates within the first 19 weeks of pregnancy, it is considered an illness under EI. If that is the case, sickness benefits may be paid as long as the qualifying conditions for sickness benefits are met.
On the other hand, if the pregnancy terminates in the 20th week or later, the claim for benefits can be considered for maternity benefits if the qualifying conditions for maternity benefits are met.
Parental benefits
Parental benefits are payable either to the biological or adoptive parents while they are caring for a new-born or an adopted child, up to a maximum of 35 weeks. To receive parental benefits you are required to have worked for 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. You must sign a statement declaring the newborn's date of birth, or, when there is an adoption, the child's date of placement for the purpose of the adoption, and the name and address of the adoption authority.
Parental benefits can be claimed by one parent or shared between the two partners but will not exceed a combined maximum of 35 weeks. Claimants making application for parental benefits must provide the name and Social Insurance Number (SIN) of the other parent for cross-reference purposes.
Parental benefits for biological parents and their partners are payable from the child's birth date, and for adoptive parents and their partners from the date the child is placed with you. Parental benefits are only available within the 52 weeks following the child's birth, or for adoptive parents, within the 52 weeks from the date the child is placed with you, unless your child is hospitalized.
The weekly EI payment and the number of weeks to be paid remain the same even if you give birth to more than one child or if you adopt at the same time.
When determining how you and your partner want to take advantage of your parental leave several choices can be made, here are some examples:
Example 1
You and your partner are sharing parental benefits, you can take the time together, the 35 weeks would be shared between the two of you.
Example 2
You may want to go back to work after your maternity leave is finished and let your partner take the full 35 weeks.
Example 3
You may only want to take a few weeks of parental benefits and then return to work, while your partner takes the remaining time choice.
Example 4
You may decide to go back to work after you have taken a couple of weeks of parental leave. Then, a few weeks later you realize you would like to be home with your child. You can still use the weeks of parental benefits you have left as long as the weeks you take do not exceed the 52 weeks since your child's birth or placement with you for adoption.
Parental benefits when your child is hospitalized
If your newborn or newly adopted child is hospitalized, you can choose to claim parental benefits immediately following the child's birth/placement or when he/she comes home from the hospital. In either case, you could receive 35 weeks of parental benefits. Each week your child is hospitalized extends the period in which you can claim parental benefits, up to a maximum of 104 weeks. You must provide a proof of the child's hospitalization.
Sickness benefits
Sickness benefits may be paid up to 15 weeks to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine. To receive sickness benefits you are required to have worked for 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. A medical certificate telling us how long the illness is expected to last must be provided .
Please note that the fees requested by your doctor or dentist are entirely at your own expense.
A person who makes a claim for sickness benefits is not only required to prove to be unable to work but also that he or she would be otherwise available for work.
Particular situations…
- You may qualify for sickness benefits even with less than 600 hours as long as you did not stop working because of illness, injury or quarantine. In fact, if you are already receiving regular benefits and you become ill while you are on that claim, you may receive the sickness benefits you are entitled to.
- If you are receiving sickness benefits and you ask for maternity and parental benefits, you will want to know more about the maximum number of combined weeks of benefits you may be able to receive.
If these situations apply to you, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre to have your claim modified.
After receiving maternity, parental or sickness benefits
A notice of last payment will be issued to you saying that you have received all the maternity, parental or sickness benefits to which you are entitled. If you don't have a job to go back to, you may be able to receive regular EI benefits without a waiting period. To find out if regular benefits can be paid to you, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre.
Disability benefits from the Canada Pension Plan
Canada Pension Plan offers disability benefits if you have a serious long-term disability that prevents you from working regularly at any job. Find out more about disability benefits...
If you work in Quebec, you contribute to the Québec Pension Plan 
, which is similar to the Canada Pension Plan.
You may apply separately for both benefits at the same time: EI sickness benefits and disability benefits from the Canada or Quebec Pension Plan.
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits combined with regular EI benefits
You may receive up to 50 weeks when regular EI benefits are combined with maternity, parental and sickness benefits. If you are in that situation and want to know more, call our telephone information service at 1 800 206-7218 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and press "0" to speak to a representative. You can also write us or go in person to your Service Canada Centre.
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits when you are out of the country
You are able to collect maternity and parental benefits while you are outside Canada. However, you must advise your Service Canada Centre if you go out of Canada.
You are able to collect sickness benefits outside Canada only if you are going to another country to receive medical treatment not readily or immediately available in Canada at an accredited hospital, medical clinic or a similar facility. If you decide on your own to go to another country to rest and recuperate, you will not be entitled to benefits. You must also advise your Service Canada Centre if you go out of Canada.
Repayment of benefits at income tax time
When you file your income tax return, if you received maternity, parental or sickness benefits during the taxation year, you will be exempted from benefit repayment no matter what your income is. But, if you received either maternity, parental or sickness benefits and regular benefits within the same taxation year, you may be required to repay some or all of the regular benefits. For more information and examples on repayment of benefits...
Your rights and responsibilities
It is very important for you to know about your rights and responsibilities...
Appealing a decision
If you disagree with an EI related decision you have the right to appeal. Information on how to file and prepare for an appeal can be found at Serving Employment Insurance Appellants...