EI Maternity & Parental Benefits Eligibility Checker

Find out if you may qualify for Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits

About EI Maternity & Parental Benefits: These benefits provide financial assistance to parents who are away from work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or caring for a newborn or newly adopted child. This guide helps you understand the eligibility requirements and check if you may qualify.

Quick Eligibility Checklist

Use this checklist to see if you meet the basic requirements for EI Maternity & Parental Benefits Eligibility Checker:

✅ You are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are a parent caring for a newborn or newly adopted child

✅ Your regular weekly earnings have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week

✅ You have accumulated at least 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks (or since your last claim)

✅ You are within the eligibility period for the benefits you're applying for

✅ You have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)

If you checked YES to all items, you likely meet the basic eligibility criteria. If you answered NO to any item, you may not be eligible or may need more information.

Detailed Eligibility Requirements

For Maternity Benefits

You must be pregnant or have recently given birth – Maternity benefits are only for the person giving birth
Available regardless of gender identity – Maternity benefits are available to eligible individuals regardless of gender identity
You can start receiving benefits as early as 12 weeks before your due date
You cannot receive benefits more than 17 weeks after your due date or the date you gave birth (whichever is later)

For Parental Benefits

You are a parent caring for your newborn or newly adopted child
Can be shared between parents – both parents may qualify for parental benefits
Must be taken within specific periods:
- Standard parental: within 52 weeks (12 months) of child's birth or placement
- Extended parental: within 78 weeks (18 months) of child's birth or placement

For Both Benefits

Earnings decrease: Your regular weekly earnings must have decreased by more than 40% for at least 1 week
Insured hours: You must have accumulated at least 600 insured hours in the 52 weeks before your claim starts (or since your last claim, whichever is shorter)
Valid SIN: You must have a valid Social Insurance Number (even if you're not a Canadian citizen)

Eligibility Periods at a Glance

Maternity Benefits

12 weeks before

due date or birth

17 weeks after

due date or birth

Total window: approximately 29-30 weeks

Parental Benefits

52 weeks

for standard parental (12 months)

78 weeks

for extended parental (18 months)

From child's birth or placement date

Insured Hours Requirement

You need 600 insured hours of work in the qualifying period. The qualifying period is the shorter of:

The 52-week period immediately before your claim start date, OR
The period since the start of your last EI claim (if you applied in the last 52 weeks)

Employment Type	Hours Count As Insured?
Full-time employment	✅ Yes – all hours count
Part-time employment	✅ Yes – all hours count
Self-employment (if opted into EI)	✅ Yes – based on income
Self-employment (not opted in)	❌ No – not eligible

Special Situations

If you had a recent EI claim: If you received Employment Insurance benefits in the past 52 weeks, you may not be eligible to receive the maximum number of weeks of maternity or parental benefits. However, if you've worked enough hours since your last claim, you may be able to start a new claim. Contact Service Canada to find out what's best for your situation.

If you get sick or require bedrest during pregnancy: If you have health complications during pregnancy, you could be eligible for:

Sickness benefits – for medical reasons during pregnancy
Maternity benefits earlier – you may be able to start maternity benefits earlier than 12 weeks before your due date

You must meet the conditions for each benefit. You cannot receive both at the same time for the same period.

If you're not a Canadian citizen: If you have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), you may be eligible for maternity and parental benefits. If you plan to travel outside of Canada while receiving benefits, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to find out how this may impact your situation.

Eligibility Summary Table

Requirement	Maternity Benefits	Parental Benefits
Who qualifies	Person giving birth	Parents caring for newborn or adopted child
Minimum insured hours	600 hours	600 hours
Earnings decrease required	More than 40% for at least 1 week	More than 40% for at least 1 week
When to apply	As early as 12 weeks before due date	Within 52 weeks (standard) or 78 weeks (extended) of birth or adoption
Can be shared	No – only birth parent	Yes – between parents

How to Apply for EI Maternity & Parental Benefits

When to apply: Apply as soon as you stop working. Don't wait more than 4 weeks.
Gather your documents: Record of Employment (ROE), SIN number, banking information, child's birth date (if applicable), medical certificate (if applying early due to sickness)
Apply online: Visit the Service Canada website and complete the application
Choose your benefit type: Select maternity, parental, or both, and choose standard or extended parental
Complete bi-weekly reports: You must submit reports every 2 weeks to continue receiving payments

Important Notes:

Quebec residents: Use the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead of EI – different rules apply
Waiting period: There is a 1-week waiting period before benefits start
Application deadline: Apply within 4 weeks of stopping work to avoid losing benefits
Sharing benefits: Both parents must submit separate applications to share parental benefits
Medical certificate: You may need a medical certificate if applying for maternity benefits early due to sickness

Don't delay your application: Benefits can only be paid retroactively for a maximum of 4 weeks from your last day of work. Apply as soon as you stop working to ensure you don't lose benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions About EI Maternity & Parental Benefits Eligibility

What does the EI maternity and parental benefits eligibility checker say if I have less than 600 hours? ▼

The EI maternity and parental benefits eligibility checker will show you may not qualify for regular benefits. However, special circumstances like a previous claim in the last 52 weeks could change your qualifying period. Always apply — let Service Canada assess your full situation.

Can fathers use this parental leave EI eligibility tool? ▼

Yes. This parental leave EI eligibility tool confirms that fathers, adoptive parents, and same-sex partners qualify for parental benefits (not maternity). Both parents can share 35 standard weeks or 61 extended weeks. Each parent must meet the 600-hour requirement and submit their own application.

How does the EI maternity benefits eligibility checker define "40% earnings decrease"? ▼

The EI maternity benefits eligibility checker requires your weekly earnings to drop by more than 40%. Example: if you normally earn $1,000 per week, you must earn less than $400 for at least one week. This happens naturally when you stop working for leave — even with employer top-ups.

Does the EI parental benefits eligibility checker work for self-employed people? ▼

Yes — but only if you opted into EI self-employed coverage. This EI parental benefits eligibility checker requires: 12 months since registration, $8,392 in self-employment earnings in the calendar year before your claim, and the 40% earnings decrease rule applies to your business income. No opt-in = no benefits.

When should I apply according to the EI maternity benefits eligibility checker? ▼

The EI maternity benefits eligibility checker recommends applying as soon as you stop working — within 4 weeks to avoid losing benefits. Maternity benefits can start 12 weeks before your due date. Parental benefits must be claimed within 52 weeks (standard) or 78 weeks (extended) of birth or placement.

Canada EI Maternity & Parental Benefits Eligibility Checker

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