- Maternity benefits run up to 15 weeks at 55% of earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week.
- Standard parental benefits last up to 35 weeks (or 40 shared); extended benefits last up to 61 weeks at 33%.
- You need about 600 insured hours to qualify.
Employment Insurance (EI) pays maternity and parental benefits to eligible parents in British Columbia. To qualify you generally need 600 insured hours in the last 52 weeks and a drop of at least 40% in your regular weekly earnings. Quebec has its own plan (RQAP); this guide covers BC workers.
2026 EI benefit rates
| Benefit | Weeks | Rate | Maximum weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity (birth parent) | 15 | 55% of average insured earnings | $729 |
| Standard parental | up to 35 (one parent) or 40 if shared | 55% | $729 |
| Extended parental | up to 61 (one parent) or 69 if shared | 33% | $437 |
The maximum applies at insurable earnings of $68,900 a year. Benefits are taxable.
The sharing bonus
If both parents share parental leave, up to five extra weeks are available on the standard option (8 on the extended option), and each parent must take at least five weeks for the bonus to apply. That is why the total is 40 weeks rather than 35.
Example: $60,000 a year
At $60,000 of insurable earnings, the weekly benefit is about $634.62 (55% of $1,154 a week). That is about $9,519 for 15 weeks of maternity benefits and about $22,212 for 35 weeks of standard parental benefits, or roughly $31,731 in total over 50 weeks. Choosing the extended option spreads a lower weekly rate (33%) over a longer time.
Employer top-up plans
Some employers pay a top-up that brings your weekly pay closer to your regular salary during the maternity portion. These supplemental unemployment benefit (SUB) plans vary by employer, so ask your HR department for the exact terms in writing.
Practical tips
- Apply as soon as you stop working. There is a waiting period before the first payment.
- Decide on the standard or extended option before the first payment; you generally cannot change it afterwards.
- Estimate your own benefits with the EI maternity and parental calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many insured hours do I need?
Generally 600 hours in the 52 weeks before your claim.
Are EI maternity and parental benefits taxable?
Yes. EI benefits are taxable income, and tax is withheld at source.
Can both parents get EI parental benefits?
Yes. Parents can share the parental weeks, and sharing unlocks extra bonus weeks.
Does this apply in Quebec?
No. Quebec residents claim from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (RQAP).