EI Parental Benefits

EI parental benefits are offered to parents who are caring for a newborn or newly adopted child or children.

Eligibility

You may be eligible to receive parental benefits if:

• you are employed in insurable employment;
• you meet the specific criteria for receiving EI maternity or parental benefits;
• your normal weekly earnings are reduced by more than 40%; and
• you have accumulated at least 600 hours of insurable employment during the qualifying period or, if you are a self-employed fisher, you have earned enough money during the qualifying period.

How Much Could You Receive

The basic rate for calculating EI parental benefits depends on the option you choose:

Standard parental benefits are paid at a weekly benefit rate of 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to a maximum amount. For 2018, this means that you can receive a maximum amount of $547 per week for up to 35 weeks.

Extended parental benefits are paid at a weekly benefit rate of 33% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to a maximum amount. For 2018, this means that you can receive a maximum amount of $328 per week for up to 61 weeks. (The amount of $328 can be increased if you are eligible to receive the Family Supplement).

How Long Could You Receive

Standard parental benefits can be paid for a maximum of 35 weeks and must be claimed within a 52 week period (12 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The weekly benefit rate is 55% of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount. The two parents can share these 35 weeks of standard parental benefits.

Extended parental benefits can be paid for a maximum of 61 weeks and must be claimed within a 78-week period (18 months) after the week the child was born or placed for the purpose of adoption. The benefit rate is 33% of the claimant’s average weekly insurable earnings up to a maximum amount. The two parents can share these 61 weeks of extended parental benefits.

You can choose to claim extended parental benefits only if your child was born or placed with you for the purpose of adoption on or after December 3, 2017.

If you want to know more about Parental benefits, please fill out the form below. After receiving your information, our benefit assistance experts will contact you immediately.