During pregnancy or after the birth of a child, the parents may be eligible for different types of benefits. Each type of benefits has its special conditions, especially concerning the benefit period within which the weeks of benefits must be taken by the parents. The number of benefit weeks is determined according to the choice of plan. Planning of benefit weeks accounts for this specific situation.
Types of Benefits
Maternity Benefits or Exclusive Benefits to the Person Experiencing Pregnancy or Childbirth
The purpose of these benefits is to allow recovery from pregnancy or childbirth. Only a person who has experienced pregnancy, childbirth or termination of pregnancy after 19 full weeks of pregnancy may be entitled to these benefits. In the case of interruption of pregnancy, see the Termination of Pregnancy page. The number of weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth is determined according to the choice of plan: basic plan or special plan. See the Choice of Plan table.
Paternity Benefits or Exclusive Benefits to the Parent Who Did Not Give Birth
These benefits are granted only to the father or to the parent who did not give birth. To be eligible, the parent must ensure a regular presence with the child to care for them. The number of benefit weeks is determined according to the choice of plan: basic plan or special plan. See the Choice of Plan table.
Parental Benefits
To be eligible for parental benefits, the parents must ensure a regular presence with the child to care for them. The benefit weeks may be taken at the same time by both parents or in different weeks. Some parental benefits are shareable, while others are not. The number of parental benefit weeks is determined according to the choice of plan: basic plan or special plan. See the Choice of Plan table.
Shareable Parental Benefits
The birth of a child entitles the parents to parental benefit weeks, which both parents may share by mutual agreement.
Did you know that…?
Under the basic plan, you could receive 4 additional parental benefit weeks when each parent has been paid at least 8 shareable parental benefit weeks.
Under the special plan, you could receive 3 additional parental benefit weeks when each parent has been paid at least 6 shareable parental benefit weeks.
Exclusive Parental Benefits
- Exclusive parental for multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.):
When more than one child is born from the same pregnancy, non-shareable parental benefit weeks are granted to each parent.
- Exclusive single parent whose child is born on or after January 1, 2022:
For the birth of a child for whom only one parent is mentioned on the act of birth, parental benefit weeks are granted to the parent if the child is born on or after January 1, 2022.
When the act of birth is modified by adding the name of a second parent, the Centre de service à la clientèle must be notified. The parent is eligible for single parent benefits only for the period during which they were the only parent mentioned on the act of birth.
Benefit Period
You may receive your benefits within a certain period, which varies according to the type of benefits.
Maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- may begin no sooner than the 16th week before the week scheduled for childbirth
- must end, subject to exceptions, no later than 20 weeks after your child is born
Paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth and parental benefits
- may begin in the week your child is born
- must end, subject to exceptions, no later than 78 weeks (18 months) after your child is born
A benefit week always begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. It is impossible to split the week into days. For example, if your child is born on Wednesday and you worked Monday and Tuesday, you may:
- either begin your benefits the previous Sunday and declare your earnings for Monday and Tuesday
- or begin your benefits the following Sunday.
Go to the page Declaring income while you are receiving benefits.
Choice of Plan
When you apply for benefits, you must choose between two options: the basic plan or the special plan.
- The basic plan grants more benefit weeks, during which lower benefits are received.
- The special plan grants higher benefits, spread over a shorter period.
This choice therefore determines the number of parental insurance benefit weeks that may be paid and the percentage replacement of your earnings for these weeks.
Type of Benefits |
Basic Plan |
Special Plan |
---|
Maternity or exclusive to the person for pregnancy or childbirth |
18 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
15 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
Paternity or exclusive to the parent who did not give birth |
5 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
Parental shareable between the parents |
32 weeks
- First 7 weeks: 70% of earnings*
- Next 25 weeks: 55% of earnings*
4 additional benefit weeks at 55% of earnings* once 8 shareable parental benefit weeks have been paid to each parent.
|
25 weeks
75% of earnings*
3 additional benefit weeks at 75% of earnings* once 6 shareable parental benefit weeks have been paid to each parent.
|
Exclusive parental for multiple births |
5 weeks to each parent
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks to each parent
75% of earnings*
|
Child born on or after January 1, 2022 |
---|
Exclusive single parent parental |
5 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
Basic Plan |
Special Plan |
---|
Maternity
Non-shareable benefits |
18 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
15 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
Paternity
Non-shareable benefits |
5 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
Parental
Shareable benefits |
32 weeks
- First 7 weeks: 70% of earnings*
- Next 25 weeks: 55% of earnings*
4 additional benefit weeks at 55% of earnings* once 8 shareable parental benefit weeks have been paid to each parent.
|
25 weeks
75% of earnings*
3 additional benefit weeks at 75% of earnings* once 6 shareable parental benefit weeks have been paid to each parent.
|
Parental for Multiple Births
Non-shareable benefits |
5 weeks to each parent
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks to each parent
75% of earnings*
|
Child born on or after January 1, 2022 |
---|
Single Parent Parental
Non-shareable benefits |
5 weeks
70% of earnings*
|
3 weeks
75% of earnings*
|
*The amount of the benefit is calculated according to the percentage of average weekly earnings (% of earnings)
Both parents must choose the same plan. The choice of plan is determined by the first of the two parents who files an application. This binds the other parent, even in the case of shared custody. Go to the Date of Application page.
Important
Once your application is received by the QPIP, it will no longer be possible to change plans, except under exceptional circumstances, this will apply for the duration of the benefit period.
To find out which benefits you could be entitled to claim depending on your situation, to estimate their amount or to evaluate which of the two plans is more advantageous for you, use the Benefit Calculation Simulator.
Planning of Benefit Weeks
Informing the Employer
You must agree with your employer on the time of your intended leave, regardless of whether you are eligible for parental insurance benefit weeks. The Act respecting labour standards contains provisions on leave for family events. To learn more, visit the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) website or contact its telephone information service at 1-844-838-0808.
Planning Benefit Weeks
The benefit weeks may be taken at the same time by both parents or at different times within the benefit period. It is possible to plan the allocation of benefit weeks to adapt to different realities.
When you complete your application, indicate all the weeks you wish to take. If your situation changes, you may modify, add or delete benefit weeks according to your needs, by accessing your file online.
Here are some examples that take the parents’ reality into account. The basic plan was considered in each situation.
Example 1: Benefits to receive additional parental benefit weeks
Annie and Sébastien want to receive additional parental benefit weeks. By doing their planning, they ensure that each of them will receive eight shareable parental benefit weeks.
Annie will receive 46 benefit weeks:
- 18 weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- 28 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the four additional weeks).
Sébastien will receive 13 benefit weeks:
- 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
- 8 shareable parental benefit weeks
Total for both parents: 59 benefit weeks
Example 2: Benefit weeks taken at the same time
Jean-Philippe and Mireille are new parents of twins. They want to care for their children together. They take all the benefit weeks for which they are eligible at the same time. In addition, because they have shared enough shareable parental benefit weeks, they are entitled to four additional parental benefit weeks that they also decide to share.
Mireille will receive 35 benefit weeks:
- 18 weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- 17 parental benefit weeks
- 5 exclusives parental benefit weeks for multiple births
- 12 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks).
Jean-Philippe will receive 34 benefit weeks:
- 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
- 29 parental benefit weeks:
- 5 exclusives non-shareable parental benefit weeks for multiple births
- 24 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks).
Total for both parents: 69 benefit weeks
Example 3: Benefit weeks taken in different periods
Marguerite and Monica want their child to stay at home as long as possible. They therefore decide that after the week the child is born, Marguerite will stay alone with their child for the first part of the leave. Monica will stay alone with the child for the second part of the leave. In addition, because they have shared enough shareable parental benefit weeks, they are entitled to four additional parental benefit weeks.
Marguerite will receive 29 benefit weeks:
- 18 weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- 11 shareable parental benefit weeks
Monica will receive 30 benefit weeks:
- 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
- 25 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the four additional weeks).
Total for both parents: 59 benefit weeks
Example 4: Benefits taken with an interruption due to a seasonal job
Karine and Maxime have a seasonal job all summer. They choose not to take benefits during the summer period to work. In any case, they have 78 weeks to take their benefit weeks. In addition, because they have shared enough shareable parental benefit weeks, they are entitled to four additional parental benefit weeks.
Karine will receive 36 benefit weeks:
- 18 weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- 18 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks).
Maxime will receive 23 benefit weeks:
- 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
- 18 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks).
Total for both parents: 59 benefit weeks
Exemple 5: Benefits for the single parent mentioned in the act of birth
Josiane has decided to have a child alone. No other parent is mentioned on the act of birth.
Josiane will receive 55 benefit weeks:
- 18 weeks of maternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth
- 37 parental benefit weeks:
- 32 shareable parental benefit weeks
- 5 exclusives parental benefit weeks for a single parent