EI maternity benefits pay up to 15 weeks to the person who's pregnant or has recently given birth, at 55% of insurable earnings up to $729 a week in 2026, as of October 2026. They can be followed by parental benefits: standard (up to 40 weeks shared, at 55%) or extended (up to 69 weeks shared, at 33% up to $437 a week). You need 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks.
The decision that matters most is standard or extended parental benefits, because the Government of Canada says you can't switch once a week of parental benefits has been paid to you or to the other parent. Quebec residents claim through the Québec Parental Insurance Plan instead. Everything here comes from the Government of Canada's EI maternity and parental pages.
Maternity and parental benefits at a glance
| Benefit | Maximum weeks | Rate | Weekly max (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity, for the person giving birth | Up to 15 | 55% | $729 |
| Standard parental | Up to 40 shared; one parent no more than 35 | 55% | $729 |
| Extended parental | Up to 69 shared; one parent no more than 61 | 33% | $437 |
Maternity benefits can't be shared between parents. Parental benefits can, and sharing adds extra weeks: 5 more for standard or 8 more for extended. Both parents must pick the same option and each submits their own application.
Who qualifies
- You're pregnant or have recently given birth (maternity), or you're a parent caring for a newborn or newly adopted child (parental).
- Your regular weekly earnings have dropped by more than 40% for at least 1 week.
- You have 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim, or since your last claim if that's shorter.
You don't need to be a Canadian citizen: a valid social insurance number may be enough. Maternity benefits are available regardless of gender identity. If you had an EI claim in the last 52 weeks, you may not get the maximum weeks.
When you can take the weeks
| Benefit | Window |
|---|---|
| Maternity | From as early as 12 weeks before the due date or birth, ending no later than 17 weeks after the due date or birth, whichever is later |
| Standard parental | Within 52 weeks (12 months) of the birth or placement week |
| Extended parental | Within 78 weeks (18 months) of the birth or placement week |
The parental weeks don't have to be consecutive, and parents can take them at the same time or one after the other, but every week has to fall inside the window. Parental benefits can only start on or after the child's date of birth or placement, so a parent who isn't giving birth can't claim ahead of the birth the way maternity benefits can.
Standard or extended: the Government of Canada's examples
| Natalie (standard) | Kelsey (extended) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 15 weeks | 15 weeks |
| Her parental weeks | 35 weeks | 61 weeks |
| Her total | 50 weeks | 76 weeks |
| Left for her partner | Up to 5 weeks | Up to 8 weeks |
Extended stretches the same pot over more weeks at a lower rate: 33% instead of 55%, and a $437 weekly cap instead of $729. If either parent takes fewer weeks, the other can take more, up to the one-parent limit.
How your weekly amount is worked out
- Service Canada takes your highest paid 'best weeks' of insurable earnings, between 14 and 22 depending on the unemployment rate where you live.
- It averages them.
- It applies 55% (maternity and standard parental) or 33% (extended parental), up to the weekly maximum.
Insurable earnings include wages, tips, bonuses and commissions before tax. Some employers pay a top-up on top of EI, so ask yours before you choose an option, because a top-up can change which one works out better for your family.
Special circumstances the Government of Canada covers
- Twins or more: the number of weeks doesn't change for a multiple birth, or for adopting more than 1 child at once.
- Changing your weeks: you can change how many weeks you request, as long as you stay within the maximum for the option you chose.
- Taking parental leave in separate blocks: you submit an application each time you plan to receive parental benefits.
- A hospitalised child: the window for maternity or parental benefits could be extended, and caregiving benefits may apply if the child becomes critically ill or injured.
- Surrogacy: maternity benefits are available to surrogates, parental benefits aren't.
- Adoption before a child is legally adoptable: benefits can be paid from the date you show the placement is permanent and you intend to adopt.
After a loss, the rules are set out plainly: if a pregnancy ends before week 20, sickness benefits may apply; from week 20, maternity benefits may apply. After the death of a child, up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits remain available, but parental benefits stop from the week after the loss.
Applying
You can apply for maternity and parental benefits at the same time. Apply as soon as you stop working: if you wait more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits. Your employer's Record of Employment feeds the calculation. If you have complications during pregnancy, you may be able to claim sickness benefits or start maternity benefits earlier. Job-protected leave itself is set by your province; in Ontario see the Employment Standards Act guide.
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The verdict
Decide standard or extended together before either of you applies, because the choice locks the moment the first payment is made. Run both through the Government of Canada's estimator with any employer top-up included, share the weeks to get the extra 5 or 8, and apply within 4 weeks of stopping work. Then put the end date of your window in the calendar, because unused weeks outside it are lost.
For time off because of illness rather than a baby, see my guide to EI sickness benefits.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of EI maternity benefits can I get?
Up to 15 weeks, followed by parental benefits if you choose.
How much do EI maternity benefits pay in 2026?
55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 a week, as of October 2026.
Can I switch from extended to standard parental benefits?
No. Once a week of parental benefits has been paid to you or the other parent, the option can't be changed.
Do both parents get extra weeks if they share?
Yes. Sharing adds 5 weeks for standard or 8 weeks for extended parental benefits.
