Frequently asked questions

Quebec has its own parental benefits program, QPIP, while the other provinces and territories use the federal Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits. The income replacement rates, the number of weeks offered and the maximum insurable earnings differ from one plan to the other. The amount you receive therefore depends directly on the province where you live when you apply.

Yes, the tool covers both plans. You select your province and the calculator automatically applies the QPIP rules if you're in Quebec, or the federal EI rules for maternity and parental benefits elsewhere in Canada.

Each plan has its own parameters. In 2026, QPIP uses maximum insurable earnings of $103,000 and offers a replacement rate of up to 75% with the special plan. Federal EI caps insurable earnings at $68,900, with a standard rate of 55%. This difference in parameters explains the gap between the two estimates.

Yes, completely, and anonymously. You can run your estimate as many times as you want, free of charge and without creating an account.

Your data stays with you. The calculation runs directly in your browser, on your device, and nothing is sent to or stored on an external server. You can close the page and start a new estimate at any time, in complete privacy.

It's an indicative estimate, designed to help you prepare financially before you apply. The final amount is always confirmed by the official body — the Conseil de gestion de l'assurance parentale for QPIP, or Service Canada for federal EI.

It's an approximate amount calculated from the information you provide, such as your income, benefit type and province. It gives you a good idea of what to expect, but it may vary slightly from the official calculation, which takes your entire file into account.

Some elements of the official calculation can't always be anticipated in advance, such as your exact income over the last 52 weeks, your precise benefit type, or other eligibility criteria specific to your file. The estimate remains a reliable starting point, not a guaranteed amount.

The tool applies the same rates, caps and rules as the official plans for 2026. The more accurate the information you enter (actual income, planned weeks, province), the closer the estimate is to what you'll receive. The gap mainly comes from variables that can't be known in advance, such as an income change during your leave.

Think of this tool as a preparation step, not a replacement. It helps you understand your options and plan your budget before filing your official application with Revenu Québec (for QPIP) or Service Canada (for EI).

The calculation applies your plan's income replacement rate (QPIP or EI) to your average weekly income, up to the insurable earnings cap in effect ($103,000 for QPIP in 2026, for example). The tool then adjusts based on the benefit type chosen and the number of weeks you want.

For a reliable estimate, you need your gross annual income (or net income if you're self-employed), your province of residence, the benefit type you're after (maternity, paternity, parental or adoption) and, if you're in Quebec, the plan you want (basic or special).

Use your average income over the last 52 weeks rather than a single representative month. That's exactly the method QPIP and EI use to set your average weekly income, so the closer your figure is to that real average, the more accurate the estimate.

You can use your prior-year net business income, divided by 52 weeks. In Quebec, QPIP automatically covers self-employed workers with net income of at least $2,000, with no prior registration. For federal EI, you must register for the self-employed program at least 12 months before applying, so plan ahead if you're outside Quebec.

The estimate shows the gross amount of your benefits, before tax deductions. Both QPIP and EI benefits are taxable, and a basic deduction is usually applied automatically. You can request an additional deduction when you apply if you'd rather avoid a surprise at tax time.

The basic plan gives you more weeks of benefits, at a replacement rate of 55% to 70% of your salary — ideal if you want to stretch out your leave. The special plan gives you fewer weeks, but at 75% of your salary — perfect if you prefer a higher income over a shorter period. The choice is made when you apply and is irrevocable, so it's best to compare the two before deciding.

Yes, the calculator covers all four QPIP benefit types (maternity, paternity, parental and adoption), as well as the federal EI maternity and parental benefits for the rest of Canada.

Yes, and it's even encouraged. Parental weeks can be shared between both parents, up to 32 weeks with the basic plan or 25 weeks with the special plan in Quebec. If you share the weeks fairly, QPIP may even add up to 4 bonus weeks.

Apply directly with the body responsible for your plan — Retraite Québec for QPIP or Service Canada for federal EI — ideally in the weeks following the start of your leave. For QPIP, the application must be made within 4 weeks of the start of your leave to avoid losing benefit weeks.

Yes, and it's a common and legal practice. Many parents add their accumulated vacation weeks before or after their parental leave to extend their time at home without reducing their benefits. You'll need to agree with your employer on when those days are taken, since they remain separate from your QPIP or EI benefit weeks.

In Quebec, the Act respecting labour standards protects your employment relationship during maternity, paternity or parental leave. If you continue paying your contributions to group insurance and retirement plans during your leave, your employer must continue doing the same. Outside Quebec, the rules vary by province or depending on whether your job falls under the Canada Labour Code, so check the applicable standards for your situation.

In Quebec, yes. At the end of maternity, paternity or parental leave, your employer must reinstate you in your usual position, with the same salary and benefits as if you had never left. If your position was eliminated during your leave, you retain the same rights and privileges you would have had if you had not left work. Outside Quebec, provincial labour standards or the Canada Labour Code apply depending on your employment status.

You must give written notice to your employer at least 3 weeks before your planned return date. If you want to return earlier than planned, the same 3-week notice applies. If you don't show up on the date stated in the written notice given before your leave, your employer may assume you have resigned — so make sure to note that date carefully.

The insurable earnings caps and contribution rates are revised every January 1st, for both QPIP and federal EI. This tool is updated on the same dates, as soon as the new official parameters are published, so your estimate is always calculated with the current figures.