Canada EI Parental Leave Calculator
Estimate a 2026 weekly EI maternity, standard parental or extended parental benefit from your estimated average weekly insurable earnings. Federal EI maternity and parental benefits do not apply to Quebec residents covered by QPIP.
Estimate your weekly EI benefit
2026 FEDERAL EIEstimate only. Service Canada determines the actual average insurable weekly earnings, eligibility and final benefit. Family Supplement, taxes, waiting-period effects, employer top-ups and Quebec QPIP are not included.
Quick answer: For 2026, EI maternity and standard parental benefits are generally 55% of average weekly insurable earnings up to $729 per week. Extended parental benefits are generally 33% up to $437 per week. Standard parental benefits can be shared for up to 40 weeks, with one parent receiving no more than 35; extended parental benefits can be shared for up to 69 weeks, with one parent receiving no more than 61.
EI maternity and parental benefits at a glance
The calculator uses the current federal benefit rates and weekly maximums published for claims in 2026.
Maternity, standard parental or extended parental?
The benefit type changes both the percentage paid and how long benefits can be received.
Up to 15 weeks at 55%
Available to the person who is away from work because they are pregnant or have recently given birth. Maternity benefits cannot be shared.
- Up to $729/week in 2026
- Can be followed by parental benefits
- Not an adoption benefit
Up to 40 shared weeks at 55%
Parents can share up to 40 standard parental weeks, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks.
- Up to $729/week in 2026
- 5 additional sharing weeks are available only to another parent
- Must generally be used within the standard parental window
Up to 69 shared weeks at 33%
Extended parental benefits lower the weekly replacement rate in exchange for a longer benefit period.
- Up to $437/week in 2026
- One parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks
- 8 additional sharing weeks are available only to another parent
How this Canada EI parental leave calculator works
Service Canada does not simply take your current annual salary and divide it by 52. For maternity and parental benefits, it calculates average weekly insurable earnings using qualifying “best weeks” from your Record of Employment and other claim information. The number of best weeks can vary by EI economic region.
This simplified calculator starts with the average weekly insurable earnings you enter, caps that amount at the 2026 weekly Maximum Insurable Earnings equivalent of $1,325, and applies either 55% or 33%. It then applies the published 2026 weekly maximum of $729 for maternity and standard parental benefits or $437 for extended parental benefits.
Because the official claim calculation depends on the earnings information Service Canada establishes, this page should be treated as an estimator rather than a payroll statement or guaranteed benefit quote.
2026 EI maternity and parental benefit table
These are federal EI maternity and parental figures. Quebec residents generally use the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan instead.
| Benefit | Rate | 2026 weekly max | Maximum for one parent | Shared parental pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity | 55% | $729 | 15 weeks | Not shared |
| Standard parental | 55% | $729 | 35 weeks | Up to 40 weeks |
| Extended parental | 33% | $437 | 61 weeks | Up to 69 weeks |
The calculator estimates payment — it does not decide whether you qualify
For insured employees, EI maternity and parental benefit eligibility normally includes having at least 600 hours of insurable employment in the qualifying period and an interruption or sufficient reduction of normal weekly earnings. Service Canada assesses the actual claim.
Self-employed people can access EI special benefits only under separate participation and eligibility rules. Employer-sponsored top-ups also sit outside the base EI calculation and can substantially change household cash flow during leave.
How shared parental weeks work
Standard parental benefits provide up to 40 weeks when benefits are shared, but a single parent cannot receive more than 35. That effectively makes up to five additional weeks available only when another parent uses them.
Extended parental benefits provide up to 69 shared weeks, while one parent cannot receive more than 61. Up to eight additional weeks therefore depend on another parent taking part of the shared entitlement.
Parents can receive parental benefits at the same time or one after another. When sharing, both parents must choose the same standard or extended option and file their own applications.
Quebec residents generally use QPIP, not federal EI maternity and parental benefits
Quebec administers maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). The federal government states that residents of Quebec use QPIP for these benefits, while EI maternity and parental benefits continue to apply in other Canadian provinces and territories.
Residence matters. Canada.ca notes that a person who works in Quebec but lives in another province generally applies to EI, while a person who lives in Quebec but works in another province generally applies to QPIP.
Worked EI parental benefit examples
These examples use the simplified input this calculator asks for: estimated average weekly insurable earnings.
Why an EI estimate may not match the eventual payment
The biggest differences usually come from the earnings base, benefit option or an assumption the calculator cannot verify.
Using annual salary ÷ 52 as if it were the official EI average
Service Canada uses a best-weeks calculation based on insurable earnings and claim data, so a simple salary average can be different.
Applying 55% to earnings above the 2026 MIE
Average weekly insurable earnings are capped. For 2026, the annual MIE is $68,900, equivalent to $1,325 per week.
Assuming standard and extended benefits are interchangeable later
The standard/extended parental choice becomes locked once a relevant parental-benefit payment has been made.
Using the federal calculator for a Quebec QPIP claim
Quebec operates a separate maternity and parental insurance scheme with its own benefit design.
Confusing EI benefits with job-protected parental leave
EI is an income-replacement program. The right to be away from a job is governed separately by the employment-standards law that covers the workplace.
Written and reviewed by Ruby Miller
Ruby Miller reviews LeaveCalculators.com employment-leave calculators against primary government guidance. This page separates the simplified calculator estimate from the Service Canada claim calculation so users can see where an official benefit may differ.
Canada EI parental leave calculator FAQs
These FAQs are written for people comparing maternity, standard parental and extended parental benefits.
What is the maximum EI parental benefit in 2026?
For 2026, the maximum weekly maternity and standard parental benefit is $729. The maximum weekly extended parental benefit is $437.
How much does standard parental EI pay?
The basic standard parental rate is 55% of average weekly insurable earnings, up to the 2026 maximum of $729 per week.
How much does extended parental EI pay?
The basic extended parental rate is 33% of average weekly insurable earnings, up to the 2026 maximum of $437 per week.
How many parental weeks can one parent receive?
One parent can receive up to 35 weeks of standard parental benefits or up to 61 weeks of extended parental benefits. More weeks are available only when parental benefits are shared.
Can both parents receive parental benefits?
Yes. Parents can receive benefits at the same time or one after another. If they share, both must choose the same standard or extended option and submit their own applications.
Can I switch from extended to standard parental benefits later?
Service Canada states that the option cannot be changed once a parental-benefit payment has been made for the birth or adoption.
Does the calculator work for Quebec?
No. Quebec residents generally use the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan for maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits.
Why could Service Canada’s number be different from this estimate?
The official calculation uses your Record of Employment, qualifying period and best weeks to establish average weekly insurable earnings. Eligibility, Family Supplement and other claim details can also change the final payable amount.
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LeaveCalculators.com is independent and is not Service Canada or another government agency. This calculator provides an educational estimate, not an eligibility decision, legal opinion, payroll statement or guaranteed EI benefit.