Financial support and leave options
Learn how to plan your leave and get the most out of your benefits.
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Benefits and leave for parents
*Residents of Quebec: The Province of Quebec is responsible for providing maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits to its residents. Visit Quebec Parental Insurance Plan for more information.
Employment Insurance maternity and/or parental benefits
Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits provide financial assistance to:
- people who are away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth
- parents who are away from work to care for their newborn or newly adopted child
Maternity benefits
Maternity benefits are only available to the person who is away from work because they're pregnant or have recently given birth. They can't be shared between parents.
The person receiving maternity benefits may also be entitled to parental benefits.
Parental benefits
Parental benefits are available to the parents of a newborn or newly adopted child.
You must choose between 2 options:
- Standard parental benefits: up to 40 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks of standard benefits
- Extended parental benefits: up to 69 weeks can be shared between parents, but one parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks of extended benefits
Your choice determines the number of weeks and the weekly amount you'll receive.
If sharing, each parent must choose the same option and submit their own application. Parents can receive their weeks of benefits at the same time or one after another.
If you're a Canadian Forces member (regular or reservist) who must defer or interrupt your parental leave because of an imperative military requirement, your eligibility period for parental benefits could be extended.
For more information, refer to EI – Extended parental benefits for military families
Visit the Employment Insurance Benefits Estimator and answer a few questions to determine which type of EI benefit might be right for you. It’ll also provide you with an estimate of your potential weekly benefit rate and how long you might be able to receive benefits.
Special circumstances
EI maternity and parental benefits include special circumstances for unique situations, such as miscarriage and multiple births. Learn more about how these circumstances may affect you.
Canada child benefit
The Canada child benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age.
Having a difficult pregnancy
Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits
EI sickness benefits can provide you with up to 26 weeks of financial assistance if you can't work for medical reasons, for example if you get sick or require bed rest during your pregnancy.
Parents with a sick child
Employment Insurance caregiving benefits
EI caregiving benefits provide financial assistance while you’re away from work to care for or support your child if they are or were critically ill, injured or if they require end-of-life care. For example, if your child was born prematurely or needs to spend time in the hospital (children under the age of 18) you may be able to receive EI caregiving benefits.
Child with a disability
The Child disability benefit (CDB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions. You must be eligible for the Canada child benefit (CCB) and the Disability tax credit (DTC) to receive the CDB.
The Disability tax credit helps reduce the income tax that people with physical or mental impairments, or their supporting family members, may have to pay.
Adoption expenses
For tax purposes, you can claim all of the eligible adoption expenses you paid. To do so, you must claim them in the tax year that includes the end of the adoption period for the child. For example, if the adoption was finalized in July 2024, you would claim the expenses in your 2024 tax return.
Member of an Indigenous community
Learn about commonly used terminology, tax-exempt income, the benefits and credits you may be eligible for and much more on the page Learn about tax benefits and credits through webinars and recordings.
To find out what Indigenous Peoples should know about the tax return they send to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and how that return can result in various benefit payments visit the Taxes and benefits for Indigenous Peoples page.
Additional financial support
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is helping make the cost of dental care more affordable for eligible Canadian residents.
The goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit is a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset the GST or HST that they pay.
Child care expenses are amounts you or another person paid to have someone else look after an eligible child so you could earn income, go to school, or carry on research under a grant.
If eligible, you can claim certain child care expenses as a deduction on your personal income tax return.
Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime
If you are a parent or legal guardian who consider to/or have taken time away from work and suffered a loss of income to cope with the death or disappearance of your child or children, you may be eligible for federal income support.
For more information, refer to Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime
Benefits Finder
The Benefits Finder is a tool designed to help you find government benefits and programs tailored to your unique situation.
To access the benefits finder, visit the Benefits Finder | Find benefits and financial help.
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