A parent earning $60,000 in Ontario could collect $31,731 in EI benefits over 50 weeks: 15 weeks of maternity pay and 35 weeks of parental pay. Put your earnings and province into the maternity leave calculator below to get your own total.
How many weeks do you get, and at what rate?
Outside Quebec, EI pays a share of your average weekly earnings, up to a weekly cap. Quebec has its own plan, with different rates, and the weeks depend on which plan you pick. The table lists each option.
| Benefit | Weeks | Rate | Weekly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| EI maternity (birth parent) | 15 | 55% | $729 |
| EI parental, standard | 40 shared | 55% | $729 |
| EI parental, extended | 69 shared | 33% | $437 |
| QPIP basic plan, maternity | 18 | 70% | Not confirmed |
| QPIP basic plan, parental | 7 at 70%, then 25 at 55% | 70% and 55% | Not confirmed |
| QPIP special plan, maternity | 15 | 75% | Not confirmed |
| QPIP special plan, parental | 25 shared | 75% | Not confirmed |
On the standard EI option, one parent can take at most 35 of the 40 shared weeks, and 5 are held for the other parent. The extended option works the same way with 61 of 69 weeks and 8 held back.
The calculator counts the most a single parent can take.
What does $60,000 a year work out to?
Yearly earnings of $60,000 give average weekly earnings of $1,153.85. At 55% that’s $634.62 a week, which is under the $729 cap. Fifteen maternity weeks plus 35 standard parental weeks make 50 weeks and $31,731.
Is the extended option better? It depends what you want the money to do. The weekly parental payment falls to $380.77, which is 33% of the same earnings, but it stretches over 61 weeks for one parent. The total comes to $32,746 across 76 weeks, so you end up with a little more money in total, paid out much more thinly.
In Quebec, the same $60,000 on the basic plan pays $807.69 a week for the first 18 weeks and for 7 more weeks, then $634.62 for 25 weeks. That adds up to $36,058 over 50 weeks.
What if you’re the parent who didn’t give birth?
You get no maternity weeks, only parental ones. Choose that role in the calculator and the total for the same earnings is $22,212 on the standard option (35 parental weeks) and $23,227 on the extended option (61 weeks).
It doesn’t include tax, employer top-ups or the low-income family supplement. For Quebec, the tool uses maximum insurable earnings of $103,000 to cap the weekly amount. We couldn’t confirm the QPIP premium rates or the weekly maximum, so check the official QPIP simulator before you plan around those figures.
What should you look at next?
If you might qualify for regular benefits instead, try the EI benefits calculator. Once your child’s here, the Canada Child Benefit calculator shows the monthly amount you could receive, and the GST/HST credit calculator covers the quarterly payment. To plan a household budget on leave pay, use the monthly budget calculator.
Where did we get the figures?
EI weeks, rates and caps come from the federal EI maternity and parental pages, and the QPIP plans from the Quebec parental insurance site. We checked them on 29 September 2026. The website has no link with any government office.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of maternity leave does EI pay?
15 weeks, for the parent who gave birth. Parental benefits come on top of that: up to 35 weeks for one parent on the standard option (40 shared between two) or up to 61 weeks on the extended option (69 shared).
What is the difference between standard and extended parental leave?
Standard pays 55% of earnings for up to 40 weeks, with a top payment of $729. Extended pays 33% for up to 69 weeks, capped at $437 a week.
Can adoptive parents get maternity benefits?
No, only parental benefits. The weeks and rates are the same, and they start when the child is placed with you.
How is Quebec different?
Quebec residents claim QPIP instead of EI. The basic plan pays 70% for 18 weeks of maternity leave, and the special plan pays 75% for 15 weeks.
Does the estimate include my employer top-up?
No. Many employers add pay on top of EI or QPIP, but the calculator shows only the government benefit before tax. Add any top-up yourself.
Sources and updates
Updated: . How we check rates · Editorial team · Updates
Estimate only. These figures are a planning estimate, not tax, legal or accounting advice. Tax-Services.ca is an independent publisher: we don't prepare or file tax returns, and we don't offer tax, legal or accounting services. We have no connection with the Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec or any provincial government. Your real amounts depend on details this tool cannot see, so confirm them with an official source or a qualified professional before you act.