Free Tool

Parental Leave Benefits Calculator

Estimate your EI maternity and parental leave benefits, see the income gap you'll need to budget for, and understand Quebec's QPIP system if applicable.

Your Details

$55,000
$30,000$150,000
No partner / N/A
$0$150,000

Weekly EI Benefit

$582

55% of insurable earnings

Total EI Income

$29,087

Over 50 paid weeks

Monthly Income Gap

$2,062

Salary minus EI per month

Leave Duration

51 weeks

1-week waiting period + 50 paid weeks

Leave Breakdown

PeriodWeeksBenefit RateWeekly Amount
Waiting period1$0$0
Maternity (birth parent)1555%$582
Parental3555%$582

Monthly Income: Pre-Leave vs During Leave

How to Prepare Financially

Build a leave fund

Save the monthly income gap ($2,062/mo) multiplied by the number of months on leave. Start saving as early as possible during pregnancy.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Once your baby arrives, you may receive up to $7,787/year per child under 6 (income-tested). This helps offset the income gap significantly. Apply as soon as the baby is born.

RRSP room still accumulates

Your EI benefits count as earned income for RRSP purposes, so you continue building contribution room while on leave. This is a hidden silver lining.

Check your employer's policy

Many employers (especially public sector, banks, and tech companies) offer top-up to 93-100% of salary. This makes a massive difference. Ask HR early.