Quebec Parental Insurance Plan

Employment Insurance (EI) frequently asked questions

For more information on the Quebec parental insurance plan  or the federal Employment Insurance program...

1. Is the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan different from the current federal maternity and parental benefits plan?
2. What happens if I reside in Quebec but work in another province?
3. What happens if I work in Quebec but reside in another province? 
4. How do I know if I am considered a resident of Quebec under this plan?
5. What happens if I receive EI maternity or parental benefits and move to Quebec during my claim? 
6. What happens if I receive benefits from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan and move elsewhere during my claim?
7. What happens if one parent resides in Quebec and the other parent lives outside the province, and both parents want to receive benefits to care for their child?
8. If I choose to receive benefits from the Quebec plan for the shorter period at the higher rate, would I then be able to receive EI maternity or parental benefits?
9. If I am a Quebec resident and I am already receiving other EI benefits, such as regular, sickness or compassionate care, do I have to apply to the Quebec plan to receive maternity/parental benefits?
10. If I receive benefits from the Quebec plan, do I still have access to other types of EI benefits?
11. Does the Quebec plan have an impact on my EI premiums?
12. If I receive benefits from the Quebec plan, will it have any impact on my income tax?

1. Is the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan different from the current federal maternity and parental benefits plan?

   Yes, while the two programs are similar, there are a number of differences. For example, the Quebec plan allows claimants a choice between two options as to the duration of the leave and the benefit rate. It has a maximum insurable income of $57,000 per year. The federal EI program offers one duration and one rate, and has a maximum insurable income of $39,000 per year.  

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2. What happens if I reside in Quebec but work in another province?

   You have access to the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan, even if you work in another province.

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3. What happens if I work in Quebec but reside in another province?

   You continue to have access to the federal EI program. You must reside in Quebec to be eligible for the Quebec program.

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4. How do I know if I am considered a resident of Quebec under this plan? 

   At the beginning of your benefit period, the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan determines whether you meet the residence criteria for eligibility.

   If you have questions on this subject, consult the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity.          

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5. What happens if I receive EI maternity or parental benefits and move to Quebec during my claim?

   If you started to receive EI maternity or parental benefits before moving to Quebec, you will continue to receive EI benefits. You will not be able to transfer from one program to another.

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6. What happens if I receive benefits from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan and move elsewhere during my claim?

   If you started to receive benefits from the Quebec plan and then move out of the province, you will continue to receive your benefits from the Quebec plan. You will not be able to transfer from one program to another.   

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7. What happens if one parent resides in Quebec and the other parent lives outside the province, and both parents want to receive benefits to care for their child?

   These two parents, one living in Quebec, and one living outside of Quebec when the first parent requests benefits, do not have access to the same program.  

   The parent who lives in Quebec must apply for parental or adoption benefits from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. The parent who lives outside the province must apply for parental benefits from the federal EI program.  

   If they wish to receive parental or adoption benefits and are eligible, they must come to an agreement about how they will share the number of weeks of benefits that are payable to them individually, according to their respective plans.

   If the parents can’t agree, a formula, agreed upon by Quebec and Canada, is in place to divide the weeks between the parents. 

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8. If I choose to receive benefits from the Quebec plan for the shorter period at the higher rate, would I then be able to receive EI maternity or parental benefits?

   No. As a rule, a person can only receive benefits from one of the two plans.

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9. If I am a Quebec resident and I am already receiving other EI benefits, such as regular, sickness or compassionate care, do I have to apply to the Quebec plan to receive maternity/parental benefits?

   Yes, as a resident of Quebec, if you request benefits for a birth or adoption, you must apply to the Quebec plan.

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10. If I receive benefits from the Quebec plan, do I still have access to other types of EI benefits?

    You may be entitled to another type of EI benefits, such as regular benefits, sickness, or compassionate care benefits for weeks that you are not receiving benefits from the Quebec plan.

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11. Does the Quebec plan have an impact on my EI premiums?

    Yes, all workers in Quebec see their EI premiums decrease.

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12. If I receive benefits from the Quebec plan, does it have any impact on my income tax?

    Yes. In general, as is the case for EI, the Quebec benefits are considered taxable income and are withheld at the source. To learn more about the tax implications of the Quebec benefit, please consult the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Quebec.