Common menu bar links
Maternity, parental and sickness benefits
Employment Insurance (EI) frequently asked questions
- Who is eligible for maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
- What do I need to qualify?
- How long can I receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
- Do I need to fill out reports during maternity and/or parental benefits?
- Do I need to provide a medical certificate when I apply for maternity benefits?
- Do I need a Record of Employment (ROE) if I'm applying for maternity and parental leave?
- When can I start collecting maternity benefits?
- Can I apply for maternity and parental benefits at the same time?
- Can my partner receive parental benefits while I am being paid maternity benefits?
- When can I or my partner start collecting parental benefits?
- If my child is hospitalized, can I start receiving parental benefits once he/she comes home from the hospital?
- If myself and partner choose to share parental benefits do we each have a waiting period?
- I am covered under a sickness benefit plan through my employer. Do I need to exhaust all my paid sick leave or group wage loss insurance (WLI) before being eligible for EI sickness benefits?
- What do I need to obtain to indicate that I am unable to work due to sickness, injury or quarantine?
- Can I leave the country when I'm receiving maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
- Can I work while I'm receiving maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
- If I give birth or adopt more than one child at once, do I get more money?
- Once I have received all of my maternity and parental EI benefits, do I have to return to work?
- Who is eligible for maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
- Maternity benefits: Birth mothers or surrogate mothers
- Parental benefits: Biological and adoptive parents
- Sickness benefits: People whose illness, injury or quarantine prevents them from working
- What do I need to qualify?
- Your regular weekly earnings must have been decreased by more than 40%; and
-
You have accumulated 600 insured hours of work in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim, whichever is shorter.
- How long can I receive maternity, parental and sickness benefits?
-
Maternity benefits can be paid up to a maximum of 15 weeks.
-
Parental benefits can be paid up to a maximum of 35 weeks.
-
Sickness benefits can be paid up to a maximum of 15 weeks.
A combination of maternity, parental and sickness benefits can be received up to a combined maximum of 50 weeks.
If 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. However, certains conditions must be met during your benefit period...
top -
- Do I need to fill out reports during maternity and/or parental benefits?
No, but you must sign a waiver saying so when you apply for EI.
top - Do I need to provide a medical certificate when I apply for maternity benefits?
No, but at the time you apply you will be asked to prove your pregnancy by signing a statement declaring the expected due or actual date of birth.
- Do I need a Record of Employment (ROE) if I'm applying for maternity and parental leave?
Yes, all paper copies of your ROEs must be submitted without delay to your Service Canada Centre. Your claim cannot be finalized without the original ROE being on file. Only ROEs with serial number starting with W or S do not require you sending paper copies because your employer has already sent us the ROE electronically. You have the responsibility to submit all other ROEs, otherwise, your payments may be delayed.
If getting your ROE is a problem, read the section on "How, where and when to apply"
top - When can I start collecting maternity benefits?
You can start collecting maternity benefits either up to 8 weeks before you are expected to give birth or at the week you give birth. Maternity benefits can be collected within 17 weeks of the actual or expected week of birth, whichever is later.
top - Can I apply for maternity and parental benefits at the same time?
Yes! In fact, this would save you a trip back to your Service Canada Centre.
top - Can my partner receive parental benefits while I am being paid maternity benefits?
Yes. Between you and your partner you have 35 weeks of parental benefits and you can divide those weeks any way you like.
top - When can I or my partner start collecting parental benefits?
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.
top - If my child is hospitalized, can I start receiving parental benefits once he/she comes home from the hospital?
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.
top - If myself and partner choose to share parental benefits do we each have a waiting period?
No, when parental benefits are shared beetween both parents only one waiting period needs to be served.
top - I am covered under a sickness benefit plan through my employer. Do I need to exhaust all my paid sick leave or group wage loss insurance (WLI) before being eligible for EI sickness benefits?
If you stop working because of illness and you are entitled to paid sick leave from your employer your must exhaust all your sick leave credits before being eligible for EI sickness benefits. As well, if you are entitled to a wage loss insurance (WLI) group plan you must first receive the WLI provided by that plan before being eligible for EI benefits.
top - I have applied for my sickness benefit plan, however my claim is either not settled or my entitlement to the sickness benefit plan is being contested. Can I receive EI sickness benefits while I wait for a decision on my entitlement to these benefits?
If eligible, you may receive EI sickness benefits while awaiting a decision about your sick leave pay or wage loss insurance. However, you must sign an agreement to inform us of the decision and repay the EI benefits, which means you must repay any and all EI benefit overpayments received while awaiting a decision on your sick leave or wage loss insurance (WLI) claim.
top - What do I need to obtain to indicate that I am unable to work due to sickness, injury or quarantine?
You must obtain a medical certificate signed by your doctor to confirm the duration of your incapacity.
top - Can I leave the country when I'm receiving maternity, parental or sickness benefits?
You are able to collect maternity and parental benefits while you are outside Canada. However, you must advise your Service Canada Centre that you are leaving the country.
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.
top - Can I work while I'm receiving maternity, parental or sickness benefits?
If you work while on maternity or sickness benefits, your earnings will be deducted from your benefits, dollar for dollar.
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 from your benefits, dollar for dollar.
top - If I have or adopt more than one child at once, do I get more money?
No, the weekly EI payment and the number of weeks to be paid remain the same.
top - Once I have received all of my maternity and parental EI benefits, do I have to return to work?
It is your choice whether or not to return to work after your maternity and parental leave. One way or the other, you do not have to repay your EI maternity and parental benefits. However, if you received supplemental payments from your employer while receiving EI maternity and parental benefits, check with him/her; if you do not return to work, your employer’s plan may require you to pay back the supplement.
