EI Maternity & Parental Benefits Calculator (Canada)

Standard pays 55% of insurable earnings (max C$695/week) for up to 35 weeks. Extended pays 33% (max C$417/week) for up to 61 weeks. Both deliver roughly the same total dollars over different time periods. Standard is better for parents returning to work within a year. Extended is better for parents wanting up to 18 months off. Once you choose, you cannot switch. If both parents are claiming, they must both choose the same option.

55% of your average insurable earnings up to a 2025 maximum of C$695/week. The maximum insurable earnings is C$65,700/year. If you earn that or more, you get the C$695 maximum. If you earn less, your weekly benefit is calculated as 55% of your average weekly earnings (insurable earnings ÷ 52 weeks × 0.55). For example, C$50,000/year × 0.55 ÷ 52 = C$528.85/week. Lower earners may qualify for the EI Family Supplement which can boost the rate.

Yes during parental leave but not during the 15 weeks of maternity benefits (for birth parent recovering). Working while on parental EI: you can earn 50 cents of every dollar of EI benefit before EI starts to claw back. Earnings above 90% of your previous weekly insurable earnings are deducted dollar for dollar. Report all earnings to Service Canada in your bi-weekly EI reports. Failing to report is fraud and results in repayment plus penalties.

Yes if you opted into the EI special benefits program voluntarily. Self-employed Canadians can register for EI maternity and parental benefits but must register at least 12 months before claiming. You pay EI premiums on your self-employment income. Once registered you commit to paying premiums for the duration of your self-employment. To register, sign up online with Service Canada (cannot register retroactively after pregnancy/birth).

When parents share parental benefits, an extra 5 weeks (Standard) or 8 weeks (Extended) is added. This is the 'use it or lose it' bonus designed to encourage both parents to take leave. If you share Standard, you get 40 weeks total instead of 35. If you share Extended, you get 69 weeks instead of 61. The second parent must take at least 5/8 weeks for the bonus to apply. Most commonly used by couples where the non-birth parent takes leave after the birth parent returns to work.

Yes. Parental benefits apply to all Canadians regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or biological connection to the child. Adoptive parents claim the 35/40 weeks of parental benefits (Standard or 61/69 Extended). The 15 weeks of maternity benefits are only for the birth parent (recovering from pregnancy/birth) so they do not apply to adoptive parents. Sperm-egg donors and surrogates have specific rules. Service Canada has guides for less common family structures.

Several provinces offer alternatives. Ontario has the Maternity and Parental Leave provisions in the Employment Standards Act giving job protection without pay. BC has similar protections. Most provinces protect your job for 17-78 weeks of unpaid leave (matching EI maximum). For income during unpaid leave, options include: provincial social assistance (welfare), employer top-up programs, family/personal savings, partner's income, Child Tax Benefit and Canada Child Benefit which continue regardless of EI status.