Maternity Quick FAQs

How early can I apply for maternity leave?

How do I apply?

When can I apply?

When will I receive my first payment?

How much will I receive?

How many weeks am I entitled to?

What if my child is hospitalized?

What are Sickness Benefits?

What is considered income? Is part time work included?

What if I get put on bed rest or told not to work by my doctor or midwife?

Can I work while collecting maternity, parental or sickness benefits?

When do you get paid?

Can I travel outside the country while on maternity/parental leave?

Maternity Quick FAQs

Usually within 28 days from the date you filed your claim.

You can start your maternity leave as early as 8 weeks before your expected due date.

You can apply online or in person at your local Service Canada Centre.

Apply Online

You can apply as soon as you finish working. In fact you can apply as soon as your last day of work.

There are many variables that go into calculating your claim. The short answer is that you will receive 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings up to a maximum of $457 per week. Please see the Calculator for an approximation of your weekly earnings.

See "How do you Calculate the amount of my Benefits"

Any job for which you receive payment is considered income. You should include any and all payments you receive from full time, part time. Basically anything you put on your taxes you should include in the calculator.

Maternity leave is ONLY payable to the mother or the surrogate mother and is a maximum of 15 weeks. Parental leave may be used for the mother or the father and generally lasts 35 weeks. The weeks can be taken by one parent or shared between the two parents and can only be paid in the 52 weeks following the child's birth in less your child is hospitalized.

Parental benefits can be delayed until your child comes home from the hospital. Each week your child is hospitalized extends the period in which you can claim parental benefits to a maximum of 104 weeks.

If your doctor or midwife recommends that you stop working due to medical reasons you may be eligible for Sickness Benefits.

Sickness Benefits are an additional 15 weeks on top of your 50 weeks of maternity/parental leave (up to 65 weeks in total). You must have a medical certificate explaining why you cannot work, and how long your incapacity is expected to last.

If you work while collecting maternity or sickness benefits, your earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.

You may however work while collecting parental benefits. Please see the spreadsheet to calculate how much you can earn. Any amount above that will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.

Your EI payment will come every 2 weeks, on Tuesday. It may be delayed due to holidays.

Yes, you may leave the country if you are on maternity or parental leave. You should contact HRDC to inform them that you will be gone. You MAY NOT however travel while on sickness benefits, in less it is for medical treatment.

Gross Yearly Income

$ - Gross Amount $ - $ - $ -

$ -

$ -

$ - Weeks worked in the past 26 week period

$ -

$ - Unemployment rate in your region

Gross Amount $ - (Rates used by the Employment Insurance Program. Effective from August 7 2011 to September 10 2011)

$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Divisor used for your calculation $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - You can earn an additional $ - $ -

$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Tax Rate $ -

$ - $ - $ -

Max $ - $ - Approximate Weekly Gross amount

$ - Approximate Weekly Net amount

Calculating Your EI/Maternity Leave Benefits Please choose the most appropriate method to calculate

your benefits for your situation.Please fill in all boxes outlined in RED, and fill in only ONE calculation method SALARY, BI-WEEKLY or WEEKLY.

Calculate your benefits with a salary

Calculate your benefits with a weekly pay

Fill in your Gross weekly pay for the past 26 weeks

Date (Optional)

Calculate your benefits with a bi-weekly pay

Fill in your gross bi-weekly pay for the past 13 pay weeks

Date (optional)

without affecting your

Select your Region --

Weeks worked in the past 26 week period --

Unemployment rate in your region

(Rates used by the Employment Insurance Program. Effective from August 7 2011 to September 10 2011)

Divisor used for your calculation 0

Insurable Hours Required to Qualify

You can earn an additional $ - per week

$ -

12%

Approximate Weekly Gross amount

$ -

Approximate Weekly Net amount $ - Your yearly income 0

Calculating Your EI/Maternity Leave Benefits Please choose the most appropriate method to calculate

your benefits for your situation. calculation method SALARY, BI-WEEKLY or WEEKLY.

without affecting your parental benefits.

Default is set to the highest tax rate. Tax rate of $317 is 7%

Reset

Top Up & Benefit CalculatorPlease calculate your weekly EI Payment before completing this spreadsheet.

Please complete the CCTB Calculator for your UCCB and CCTB Benefits

$ - Yearly Salary

$ - Weekly Salary

$ - Approximate Weekly Gross EI Payment

$ - Approximate Weekly Net EI Payment

95% Company Top Up

$ - Gross received from company

20%

$ - Weekly Total Received from Company (Net)

$ - Universal Child Care Benefit (Monthly)

$ - $ - Canada Child Tax Benefits (Monthly) $ -

$ -

Tax Percentage on Top Up (Speak to your HR Dept)

Approximate Weekly Budget With Top Up and Benefits

Reset

Please choose your Province

0

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

0

Basic Monthly Amount 0

National Child Benefit Supplement 0

Universal Child Care Benefit 0

Child Disability Benefit 0

CCTB Calculator (Except Alberta) Base year 2009 for the period July 2010 to June 2011

Total Number of Children Under 18 Years

Your net Income (line 236 on your tax return) If your net income is negative enter "0"

Subtract: Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) If you have not started collecting UCCB enter "0" (Line 117 on your tax return)

Add: Repayment of UCCB (line 213 on your tax return or the tax return of your spouse)

Number of Children Under the age of 6

Reset

Select

0

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

Total Benefits Per Month $ -

CCTB Calculator (Except Alberta) Base year 2009 for the period July 2010 to June 2011

Number of children who are qualified disabled dependants

Your Spouse or Common-law partner's net income (Line 236 on your spouse's tax return)

Subtract: Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) claimed by you, your spouse or common law partner. If the RDSP is negative enter "0"

Add: Repayment of RDSP (liner 232 on your tax return or the tax return of your spouse)

0

0

0

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

0

Basic Monthly Amount 0

National Child Benefit Supplement 0

Universal Child Care Benefit 0

Alberta Family Employment Credit 0

Child Disability Benefit 0

CCTB Calculator Alberta Base year 2009 for the period July 2010 to June 2011

Number of Children Under 7 years of age

Number of Children 12 to 15 years of age

Number of children who are qualified disabled dependants

Your net Income (line 236 on your tax return) If your net income is negative enter "0"

Subtract: Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) If you have not started collecting UCCB enter "0" (Line 117 on your tax return)

Add: Repayment of UCCB (line 213 on your tax return or the tax return of your spouse)

Number of Children Under the age of 6

Reset

0

0

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

$ 0 .OO

Total Benefits Per Month $ -

CCTB Calculator Alberta Base year 2009 for the period July 2010 to June 2011

Number of Children 7 to 11 years of age

Number of Children 16 to 17 years of age

Your Spouse or Common-law partner's net income (Line 236 on your spouse's tax return)

Subtract: Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) claimed by you, your spouse or common law partner. If the RDSP is negative enter "0"

Add: Repayment of RDSP (liner 232 on your tax return or the tax return of your spouse)

On Going Costs One Time CostsLeave item blank if you do not wish to include it in your calculations

Childcare $ - Day care/ babysitter costs per month x 12 $ -

Diapers $ - Select $ - Wipes $ - per month x 12 months $ -

FeedingFirst 6 months $ - I plan to breast feed- x 6 months $ - 6 months to a year $ - On solid foods x 6 months $ - $ - Select $ -

Clothing $ - Per month on clothing $ -

Savings $ - per month for savings (college etc.) $ -

Medicine/First Aid $ - per month (tempra, band aids etc.) $ -

Toiletries $ - per month (excluding diapers) $ -

Toys/Books/Media $ - per month $ -

$ - Monthly Total Yearly Total $ -

$ - Weekly Total

Reset Reset

One Time Costs

GearAverage price range in (brackets)

$ 100.00 $ 139.00 $ 129.00 $ 159.00 $ 50.00 $ 180.00 $ 79.00 $ 140.00 $ 59.00 $ 39.00 $ 50.00

Activities $ 100.00 $ 40.00 $ 80.00 $ 50.00 $ 40.00

Nursery $ 230.00 $ 120.00 $ 230.00 $ 100.00 $ 165.00 $ 25.00

Basic bedding and blankets $ 64.00 $ 150.00 $ 30.00

$ 250.00

$ 40.00

Decorations $ 150.00

$ 99.00 $ 50.00

Feeding

Bottles and nipples $ 60.00 $ 100.00

Utensils $ 13.00

Plates and bowls $ 10.00

Cups and sippy cups $ 21.00

The default is set to the average price. Change default to $0 if you wish to remove the item from your calculations

Infant car seat ($60 - $150)

Convertible car seat ($80 - $300)

Basic stroller ($70 - $900)

Double stroller ($100 - $300)

"Snap-on" stroller frame ($40 - $90)

Jogging stroller ($100 - $300)

Play yard ($59 - $150)

Baby backpack ($40 - $300)

Front carrier ($25 - $120)

Sling or wrap carrier ($29 - $100)

Diaper bag ($25 - $200)

Swing ($85 - $120)

Bouncer/bouncy seat ($30 - $70)

Activity center ($70 - $80)

Play mat/gym ($25 - $80)

Doorway jumper ($30 - $40)

Crib ($120 - $850)

Changing table ($80 - $250)

Glider or rocker ($189 - $600)

Bassinet ($50 - $260)

Co-sleeper ($130 - $200)

Hamper ($20 - $60)

Coordinated crib bedding set ($50 - $600)

Mobile ($20 - $55)

Dresser ($80 - $500)

Lamp ($24 - $70)

Crib mattress ($60 - $140)

Baby monitor ($40 - $60)

Highchair ($60 - $250)

Reset

Burp cloths (6) $ 10.00

Bottle brush (2) $ 8.00

Bibs (10) $ 12.00

Total One Time Costs $ 3,371.00

Canada Child Benefits, Subsidies and Grants Program Name & Link to Site Province

All

All

AB

AB

AB

AB

BC

BC

BC

MB

Healthy BabyMB

NB

NB

Universal Child Care Benefit

Canada Child Tax Benefit

Alberta Child Health Benefit

Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan

Child Care Subsidy

Kin Child Care Fund Program

BC Family Bonus Program/ BC Earned Income Benefit

Child Care Subsidy

BC Healthy Kids

Manitoba Child Benefit

Day Care Assistance

New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit

NF

NF

NWT

NS

ON

ON

QC

Resources

ALLALL

The Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (NLCB)

Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement

NWT Child Benefit

Nova Scotia Child Benefit

Ontario Child Benefit

Ontario Child Care Supplement

Soutien aux Enfants / Child Assistance

Registration for most (but not all) of the program listed above occurs automatically when you register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Please see the program's website for additional information.

Canada Benefits A-Z Index

National Child Benefit

Canada Child Benefits, Subsidies and Grants Brief Program Description Amount Taxable?

$ 100.00 Yes

Variable No

Variable No

$ 500.00 ?

Variable ?

up to $400 ?

Variable No

Variable ?

Variable ?

Variable No

Variable ?

Variable ?

Variable No

The UCCB is designed to help Canadian families, as they try to balance work and family life, by supporting their child care choices through direct financial support. The UCCB is for children under the age of 6 years and is paid in installments of $100 per child.

The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18.

The Alberta Child Health Benefit plan pays for health services, such as eyeglasses, prescription drugs and dental care, that are not available through standard Alberta Health Care Insurance.

The Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan (ACES) was created as an incentive for parents to begin planning and saving for their children’s post-secondary education as early as possible.

Provides financial assistance to Alberta families with preschool children who attend day care.

If you would like to pay relatives to care for your children, you may do so though the Kin Child Care program.

The B.C. Family Bonus and the B.C. Earned Income Benefit are tax-free monthly payments designed to help low- and modest-income working families living in British Columbia with the cost of raising their children.

The Child Care Subsidy is a monthly payment that helps British Columbia families meet the costs of child care.

The BC Healthy Kids Program helps low income families with the costs associated with basic dental care and prescription eyewear for their children.

The Manitoba Child Benefit (MCB) provides monthly benefits to low-income Manitoba families needing assistance with the cost of raising children.

Assists income-eligible pregnant women to meet their extra nutritional needs and provides community-based support services.

Provides a day care subsidy to families who are not eligible for basic financial assistance and who do not have reasonable access to licensed child care facilities.

NBCTB is an additional benefit paid to qualifying families with earned income who have children under the age of 18. Benefits are combined with the CCTB into a single monthly payment.

Variable No

$ 60.00 ?

Variable No

Variable No

Variable No

Variable No

Variable No

Has information on all Province's Benefit Programs

The NLCB is a tax free benefit that is combined with the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) into a single monthly payment. The benefit is designed to help low-income families with the cost of raising children.

This is a monthly financial benefit for low income pregnant mothers and for families with children under the age of one

The NWT Child Benefit (NWTCB) is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and is included with monthly federal Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) payments.

The Nova Scotia Child Benefit is the provincial government's contribution to the National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative.

The Ontario Child Benefit is part of Ontario’s plan to expand opportunity for low-income families.

OCCS is a tax-free monthly payment to help with the costs of raising children under the age of seven.

Calcul@ide vous permet de calculer facilement le montant des crédits d’impôt remboursables pouvant être versés dans le cadre des mesures Soutien aux enfants et Prime au travail.

Registration for most (but not all) of the program listed above occurs automatically when you register for the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Please see the program's website for additional information.

All benefits, child and otherwise can be found on this site.