How to apply for EI maternity and parental benefits in Canada in 2026
Apply for Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits in Canada after your earnings drop because of pregnancy, childbirth or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. Learn the 600-hour eligibility rule, when to apply, Record of Employment requirements, standard versus extended parental benefits, 2026 payment limits and what happens after you apply.
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To qualify for EI maternity or parental benefits, you generally need at least 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before your claim starts or since the start of your last claim, whichever period is shorter, and your regular weekly earnings from work must have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week. Maternity benefits are available to the person who is pregnant or has recently given birth and provide up to 15 weeks at 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week in 2026. Parental benefits are available to parents caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. Standard parental benefits pay 55%, up to $729 per week, while extended parental benefits pay 33%, up to $437 per week. Apply online as soon as possible after you stop working and do not wait for your Record of Employment. If you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
What you need
- Your Social Insurance Number.
- The names and addresses of employers you worked for during the past 52 weeks.
- The dates you worked for each employer and the reasons you are no longer employed with them.
- A detailed explanation if you quit or were dismissed from any job during the past 52 weeks.
- Your full mailing address and home address if different.
- The Social Insurance Number of the other parent if you plan to share parental benefits.
- The last name at birth of one of your parents.
- Your banking information for direct deposit, including the financial institution name, branch transit number and account number.
- Your child's expected or actual date of birth when applying for maternity or parental benefits after a birth.
- For an adoption, the date the child was placed with you for adoption and the full name and address of the agency handling the adoption.
- Records of Employment for the relevant employment period. Electronic ROEs are sent directly to Service Canada. If your employer issues a paper ROE, provide the required paper ROE to Service Canada after submitting your application.
Eligibility
For EI maternity benefits, you must be pregnant or have recently given birth. For EI parental benefits, you must be a parent caring for your newborn or newly adopted child. For either benefit, your regular weekly earnings from work must have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week and you generally must have accumulated at least 600 insured hours of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever period is shorter.
Maternity benefits are only available to the person who is pregnant or has recently given birth and cannot be shared. Parental benefits can be paid to parents of a newborn or newly adopted child and can be shared. A person who is not a Canadian citizen may still be eligible if they have a valid Social Insurance Number and otherwise meet the EI requirements.
Residents of Quebec generally receive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan rather than EI maternity and parental benefits. EI maternity and parental benefits continue to apply in the other provinces and territories, subject to the federal eligibility rules.
How to do it
- Check that you meet the EI eligibility requirements. You generally need a reduction of more than 40% in your regular weekly earnings for at least 1 week and at least 600 insured hours in the applicable qualifying period. For maternity benefits you must be pregnant or have recently given birth. For parental benefits you must be caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
- Decide which benefits you need. Maternity benefits provide up to 15 weeks. If you will also care for the child after maternity benefits end, you can apply for parental benefits at the same time.
- Choose standard or extended parental benefits. Standard parental benefits provide a higher weekly payment over fewer weeks. Extended parental benefits provide a lower weekly payment over more weeks. Consider the choice carefully because you cannot switch options after a parental benefit payment has been made to you or, when sharing benefits, to another parent.
- Coordinate with the other parent if sharing parental benefits. Each parent must submit their own application and both must choose the same parental option. If different options are selected, Service Canada uses the option on the first application received.
- Gather the required personal and employment information. Prepare your SIN, addresses, employment history, banking information, child information and the other parent's SIN if you plan to share parental benefits.
- Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. Submit the online EI application through Service Canada. If you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.
- Do not wait for your Record of Employment. Service Canada instructs applicants to submit the application immediately and send required documents afterward.
- Check whether your ROE is electronic or paper. Electronic ROEs are sent directly to Service Canada and can be viewed in My Service Canada Account. If your employer issues paper ROEs, provide all required paper ROEs for the applicable employment period as soon as possible after applying.
- Provide any outstanding documents. Documents can be mailed to Service Canada or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre according to the instructions provided after the application.
- Keep your access code. Service Canada mails a benefit statement with a four-digit access code after receiving the application. The statement does not mean your claim has already been approved.
- Check your claim in My Service Canada Account. Use MSCA to review your application status, messages, payment information and Records of Employment.
- Follow EI reporting requirements. Claimants normally submit EI reports every 2 weeks. People receiving maternity or parental benefits can choose a reporting exemption. If exempted, you must still contact Service Canada if you work, receive money or experience another circumstance that could affect your benefits.
- Report important changes. Contact Service Canada if you start working or earn money, stop providing care for your child while receiving parental benefits, or if other circumstances affecting eligibility change.
How EI maternity and parental benefits work in Canada
Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits provide temporary income support when eligible workers stop or substantially reduce work because of pregnancy, childbirth or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
Maternity benefits and parental benefits are separate benefits. Maternity benefits are only for the person who is pregnant or has recently given birth. Parental benefits are for parents caring for a newborn or newly adopted child and can be shared between parents.
Who qualifies for EI maternity and parental benefits
For maternity benefits, you must be pregnant or have recently given birth. For parental benefits, you must be a parent caring for a newborn or newly adopted child.
For either type of benefit, Service Canada requires your regular weekly earnings from work to have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week. You also generally need 600 insured hours of work during the 52 weeks before the claim starts or since the start of your previous EI claim, whichever period is shorter.
Can a temporary resident receive EI maternity or parental benefits
Canadian citizenship is not itself listed as a requirement. Service Canada states that a person who is not a Canadian citizen may be eligible if they have a valid Social Insurance Number and meet the other eligibility conditions.
How many weeks of maternity benefits can you receive
EI maternity benefits are available for a maximum of 15 weeks. In 2026, the basic maternity benefit rate is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $729 per week.
Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before your due date or the date you give birth. They cannot be paid more than 17 weeks after your due date or actual date of birth, whichever is later.
Maternity benefits cannot be shared between parents. The person receiving maternity benefits may also qualify for parental benefits and can apply for both benefits at the same time.
Standard versus extended parental benefits
When applying for parental benefits, you must choose between standard and extended parental benefits. The option determines both the number of available weeks and the weekly payment rate.
Standard parental benefits
Standard parental benefits pay 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week in 2026. One parent can receive up to 35 weeks. If parents share standard parental benefits, up to 40 weeks are available in total, but no individual parent can receive more than 35 weeks.
The additional 5 weeks available when standard parental benefits are shared can only be used by another parent. Standard parental benefits must be taken within 52 weeks from the week the child is born or placed with you for adoption.
Extended parental benefits
Extended parental benefits pay 33% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $437 per week in 2026. One parent can receive up to 61 weeks. If parents share extended benefits, up to 69 weeks are available in total, but no individual parent can receive more than 61 weeks.
The additional 8 weeks available when extended parental benefits are shared can only be used by another parent. Extended parental benefits must be taken within 78 weeks from the week the child is born or placed with you for adoption.
Can you change from standard to extended parental benefits later
You should choose carefully before benefits are paid. Service Canada states that you cannot change between standard and extended parental benefits once a week of parental benefits has been paid to you, or once a payment has been made to another parent when the benefits are shared.
How sharing EI parental benefits works
If parents share parental benefits, each parent must submit a separate EI application. Both parents must choose the same option, either standard or extended.
If parents select different options, Service Canada uses the parental benefit option selected on the first application it receives. Parents can receive parental benefits at the same time or one after another.
When should you apply for EI maternity or parental benefits
Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. Service Canada warns that applying more than 4 weeks after your last day of work may cause you to lose benefits.
You do not need to wait until all documents are available before applying. Service Canada specifically instructs applicants to submit the online application immediately and provide required documents afterward.
What information do you need for an EI maternity or parental application
You need your Social Insurance Number, home and mailing addresses, one parent's last name at birth, employment information covering the previous 52 weeks, and banking information if you want direct deposit.
You must provide employer names and addresses, dates of employment and the reasons each employment ended. If you quit or were dismissed from a job in the previous 52 weeks, you must provide a detailed explanation.
If you plan to share parental benefits, you also need the Social Insurance Number of the other parent.
Information needed for a birth
For a birth, provide your child's expected or actual date of birth. If the actual date differs from the expected date entered in your application, Service Canada instructs you to report the change as soon as possible.
Information needed for an adoption
For an adoption, provide the date the child was placed with you for adoption and the full name and address of the agency handling the adoption.
Do you need your Record of Employment before applying
No. Do not delay your EI application while waiting for an ROE. Submit the application first.
If your employer issues an electronic Record of Employment, it is sent directly to Service Canada and you do not need to obtain a copy for submission. Electronic ROEs can be viewed through My Service Canada Account.
If an employer issues a paper ROE, you must provide the required paper ROEs covering the past 52 weeks or since the beginning of your previous claim, whichever period is shorter. Service Canada allows required documents to be mailed or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre after the online application is submitted.
How to apply online for EI maternity and parental benefits
The federal application is completed online. Service Canada estimates that it takes about 1 hour.
If you cannot finish the application in one session, you can return using the temporary password issued when you begin. The information is saved for 72 hours. If you do not submit the application during that period, the saved application is deleted and you must start again.
How much are EI maternity and parental benefits in 2026
The basic rate for maternity and standard parental benefits is 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week in 2026. Extended parental benefits are calculated at 33% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $437 per week in 2026.
Service Canada calculates the benefit amount using a number of your highest-paid weeks, known as best weeks. Depending on the unemployment rate where you live, between 14 and 22 of your highest-paid weeks can be used.
The exact amount is determined only after Service Canada processes your application and employment information.
How long does it take to receive the first payment
If you are eligible and have provided all required information, Service Canada states that you should receive your first payment about 28 days after applying.
Is there an EI waiting period for maternity and parental benefits in 2026
Under the normal EI rules, there is a 1-week waiting period before benefits are paid. However, a temporary federal measure waives the waiting period for all new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026.
A claimant who is entitled to a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit top-up can choose to serve the waiting period when doing so is advantageous.
If you apply for both maternity and parental benefits under the normal waiting-period rules, only one waiting period applies. When parental benefits are shared for the same child, only one parent normally serves the waiting period.
Do you have to submit EI reports while receiving maternity or parental benefits
EI claimants generally submit reports every 2 weeks. However, people receiving maternity or parental benefits may request an exemption from biweekly reporting.
If you choose the reporting exemption, you remain responsible for telling Service Canada if you work, receive money or experience another circumstance that could affect your benefits. If you do not choose an exemption, you must continue submitting the required biweekly reports.
What happens after you apply
Once Service Canada receives your application, it mails a benefit statement containing a four-digit access code. Receiving the statement does not mean your application has been approved.
You can use My Service Canada Account to review your claim status and messages, confirm your banking and contact information and view electronic Records of Employment.
If Service Canada determines that you are not eligible, you will be notified of the decision.
What changes must you report while receiving benefits
Contact Service Canada if you start working or receive earnings while receiving maternity or parental benefits. If you are receiving parental benefits, you must also report if you stop providing care for your child.
Failing to report circumstances that affect entitlement can result in an overpayment that must be repaid.
Can you receive EI maternity or parental benefits outside Canada
Service Canada states that maternity and parental benefits can continue while you are outside Canada as long as you continue to meet the eligibility conditions.
What applies if you live in Quebec
Quebec operates its own maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefit program through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. Residents of Quebec generally apply through QPIP for these benefits rather than the federal EI maternity and parental benefits program.
If you work in Quebec but live in another province, the federal guidance states that you are not eligible for QPIP and must apply through EI. If you live in Quebec but work in another province, you generally apply through QPIP. Special coordination rules apply when parents live in different provinces and share benefits.
What if Service Canada refuses your application
If you disagree with Service Canada's decision, you can request reconsideration. The request must be submitted within 30 days after the decision was communicated to you.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do I need for EI maternity or parental benefits in Canada?
You generally need at least 600 insured hours of work during the 52 weeks before the start of your claim or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever period is shorter.
How much are EI maternity benefits in 2026?
Maternity benefits are generally calculated at 55% of average insurable weekly earnings. The maximum is $729 per week in 2026, and up to 15 weeks can be paid.
What is the difference between standard and extended parental benefits?
Standard parental benefits pay 55% of average insurable weekly earnings, up to $729 per week in 2026, for up to 35 weeks for one parent. Extended parental benefits pay 33%, up to $437 per week, for up to 61 weeks for one parent. Additional weeks are available when parents share benefits.
How many weeks can parents share under standard EI parental benefits?
Parents can share up to 40 weeks of standard parental benefits. One parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks, so at least 5 of the available weeks must be taken by another parent if the family wants to use all 40 weeks.
How many weeks can parents share under extended EI parental benefits?
Parents can share up to 69 weeks of extended parental benefits. One parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks, so up to 8 additional weeks are available only to another parent.
Can I change from standard to extended parental benefits after applying?
You can change your selection before a parental benefit payment is made. Once a week of parental benefits has been paid to you, or a payment has been made to another parent when sharing benefits, the standard or extended option cannot be changed.
When can EI maternity benefits start?
Maternity benefits can start as early as 12 weeks before your due date or the date you give birth. They cannot be paid more than 17 weeks after your due date or actual date of birth, whichever is later.
When can EI parental benefits start?
Parental benefits can start in the week your child is born or the week the child is placed with you for adoption.
Do I need my Record of Employment before applying for maternity or parental benefits?
No. Service Canada tells applicants not to wait for documents before applying. Electronic ROEs are sent directly by employers, while required paper ROEs can be submitted after the online application.
How soon should I apply for EI maternity or parental benefits?
Apply as soon as possible after you stop working. If you apply more than 4 weeks after your last day of work, Service Canada warns that you may lose benefits.
How long does it take to receive the first EI maternity or parental payment?
If you are eligible and Service Canada has all required information, the first payment is generally received about 28 days after you apply.
Is the EI waiting period waived in 2026?
For new EI claims starting between March 30, 2025 and October 10, 2026, the temporary federal measure waives the usual one-week waiting period for all EI benefit types.
Do I have to submit biweekly EI reports during maternity or parental leave?
You can request an exemption from biweekly reporting while receiving maternity or parental benefits. If you are exempted, you must still report work, money received or other circumstances that could affect your entitlement.
Can both parents receive EI parental benefits at the same time?
Yes. Parents who are sharing parental benefits can receive their weeks at the same time or one after another. Each parent must submit their own application and choose the same standard or extended option.
Do Quebec residents apply for EI maternity and parental benefits?
Quebec residents generally receive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. EI maternity and parental benefits apply in the other provinces and territories, subject to federal eligibility rules.