EI maternity and parental benefits replace part of your pay while you’re off work to give birth or to care for a new baby or newly adopted child. In 2026 they pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to $729 a week, or 33% up to $437 a week if you choose extended parental benefits. You need 600 hours of insurable work in the past 52 weeks to qualify.
This guide covers the federal EI program. If you live in Quebec, you get these benefits from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan instead.
How much you can get in 2026
Your weekly benefit is a percentage of your average insurable earnings, up to a weekly maximum. For 2026, the most earnings EI counts is $68,900 a year.
| Benefit | Weeks | Rate | Maximum a week (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity (the person who gave birth) | Up to 15 | 55% | $729 |
| Standard parental | Up to 35 for one parent, or 40 shared | 55% | $729 |
| Extended parental | Up to 61 for one parent, or 69 shared | 33% | $437 |
To work out your average, Service Canada adds up your earnings from your best-paid weeks in the last 52 weeks, divides by the number of best weeks, then applies 55% or 33%. The number of best weeks is between 14 and 22, depending on the unemployment rate where you live. The EI benefits estimator gives you a figure before you apply.
Example: if your average insurable earnings are $1,000 a week, maternity and standard parental pay $550 a week, and extended parental pays $330 a week. Anyone earning above the yearly maximum gets the cap of $729 or $437.
Standard or extended parental: which to choose
Both options pay about the same total at the maximum. Extended spreads a lower weekly amount over more weeks. Keep these rules in mind:
- Standard parental benefits must be used within 52 weeks of the birth or adoption placement. Extended benefits must be used within 78 weeks.
- You can’t switch between standard and extended once a week of parental benefits has been paid.
- If you share parental benefits, both parents must choose the same option.
Sharing gives you extra weeks
When two parents both claim parental benefits for the same child, they get extra weeks. Standard parental rises to 40 weeks in total, but one parent can’t take more than 35. Extended parental rises to 69 weeks in total, but one parent can’t take more than 61. Each parent sends in a separate application.
The family supplement
If your family’s net income is $25,921 a year or less, you have at least one child under 18, and you or your spouse get the Canada Child Benefit, EI adds a family supplement to your weekly payment automatically. Your total still can’t go over $729 a week.
Who qualifies
You may qualify for maternity or parental benefits if all of these apply:
- You worked at least 600 hours of insurable employment in the 52 weeks before your claim starts, or since the start of your last claim, whichever is shorter.
- Your regular weekly earnings dropped by more than 40% for at least one week.
- For maternity: you’re pregnant or recently gave birth. Maternity benefits are available regardless of gender identity.
- For parental: you’re a parent caring for your newborn or newly adopted child.
- You have a valid Social Insurance Number. You don’t need to be a Canadian citizen.
If you got EI in the past 52 weeks, you may not get the full number of weeks. You may still be able to start a new claim if you’ve worked enough hours since. Our EI eligibility guide explains insurable hours in more detail.
How to apply
- Apply online as soon as you stop working. If you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before your due date.
- Gather your details. You need your SIN, your employers from the past 52 weeks (names, addresses, dates and why you stopped), your child’s due date or birth date, and your bank details for direct deposit. For an adoption, have the placement date and the agency’s details.
- Check your Records of Employment. Most employers send them to Service Canada electronically. If you got a paper ROE, you have to send it in yourself.
- Choose maternity and parental together if you can. You can apply for both in one application. Pick standard or extended parental carefully, because you can’t change it later.
- If you’re sharing, the other parent applies separately and chooses the same option.
- Watch for your access code. A benefit statement with a 4-digit access code comes by mail. You can track your claim in My Service Canada Account.
The online form takes about an hour. It saves your answers for 72 hours, after which you have to start again.
When payments start
There’s normally one unpaid waiting week at the start of a claim. You only serve it once if you claim maternity and then parental benefits, and only one parent serves it when you share parental benefits.
Under a temporary measure, the waiting week is waived for new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026. Claims that start after October 10, 2026 have the usual waiting week unless the government extends the measure.
If you’re eligible and have sent everything Service Canada needs, your first payment arrives about 28 days after you apply. After that, EI pays by direct deposit. The EI payment dates page shows when deposits usually land, and our EI online reporting guide explains the reports some claimants have to fill in.
Maternity benefits must end within 17 weeks of the birth. Parental benefits must end within 52 weeks (standard) or 78 weeks (extended) of the birth or placement.
Things to watch for
- Applying late. Waiting more than 4 weeks after your last day of work can cost you benefits.
- Picking extended without doing the math. Extended pays 33% a week instead of 55%, and the choice is locked in once a parental week is paid.
- Parents choosing different options. When sharing, both must pick standard or both extended.
- Not reporting work. If you work while on maternity or parental benefits, you keep 50 cents of your benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90% of your previous weekly earnings. Above that, earnings come off dollar for dollar. Tell Service Canada about any earnings. The working while on claim page has examples.
- Employer top-ups. Some employers top up EI. Ask yours before you go on leave.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for a payment or gift cards to release a benefit. If a call, text or email asks for money or your banking details to “unlock” a payment, don’t click or reply. Contact the program yourself using the numbers on this page, and see our scam guide.
Having a baby also changes other benefits. Our having a baby checklist lists what to apply for, including the Canada Child Benefit.
Common questions
How much is EI maternity leave in 2026?
Maternity benefits pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to $729 a week in 2026, for up to 15 weeks.
What’s the difference between standard and extended parental benefits?
Standard pays 55% (up to $729 a week) for up to 35 weeks. Extended pays 33% (up to $437 a week) for up to 61 weeks. You can’t switch once a parental week is paid.
How many extra weeks do we get if we share parental leave?
Sharing raises standard parental to 40 weeks in total and extended to 69 weeks. One parent can’t take more than 35 (standard) or 61 (extended).
When should I apply for EI maternity benefits?
Apply as soon as you stop working. Maternity benefits can start up to 12 weeks before your due date, and applying more than 4 weeks after your last day of work may cost you benefits.
How long does it take to get the first EI maternity payment?
About 28 days after you apply, if you’re eligible and Service Canada has everything it needs.
Is there a waiting week for maternity benefits?
Normally yes, one week. It’s waived for new claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026.
