How EI maternity benefits work, how much you'll receive, eligibility requirements, and how maternity leave connects with parental leave benefits.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 15 weeks |
| Benefit rate | 55% of average insurable weekly earnings |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $668/week (2025) |
| Waiting period | 1 week (no pay) |
| Earliest start | Up to 12 weeks before expected due date |
| Latest end | 17 weeks after actual birth |
| Hours required | 600 insurable hours in last 52 weeks |
| Who can claim | Biological mother only |
Maternity vs. Parental: EI maternity benefits (15 weeks) are exclusively for the birth mother. They can be combined with parental benefits (35 or 61 weeks) for a total of up to 50 weeks at 55% or up to 76 weeks with extended parental leave.
Your EI maternity benefit is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the 2025 maximum of $668/week.
| Annual Salary | Weekly Maternity Benefit | Total 15 Weeks (before tax) |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $423/week | $6,346 |
| $55,000 | $582/week | $8,731 |
| $63,200+ | $668/week (max) | $10,020 |
These amounts are before tax. EI maternity benefits are taxable — federal and provincial income tax will be withheld from your payments.
Many employers offer a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plan that tops up EI maternity benefits to 70–95% of your regular salary. Check your employment contract or HR policy to see if your employer offers this.
To qualify for EI maternity benefits you must:
Self-employed mothers: Self-employed Canadians who registered for the EI self-employed program at least 12 months before their claim can access EI maternity benefits. The same 600-hour threshold applies, based on self-employment earnings.
Most birth mothers combine maternity benefits with parental benefits for a longer leave. Here's how the two work together:
| Benefit Type | Duration | Rate | Who Claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity benefits | 15 weeks | 55% | Birth mother only |
| Standard parental (combined) | 40 weeks shared | 55% | Either parent (shared) |
| Extended parental (combined) | 69 weeks shared | 33% | Either parent (shared) |
A birth mother who takes all 15 weeks of maternity benefits plus all 40 weeks of standard parental benefits on her own would receive a total of 55 weeks of EI benefits (minus the 1-week waiting period = 54 paid weeks).
When your maternity EI payment arrives, make sure it lands in an account with no fees. KOHO is free, earns cash back, and has tools to help you budget during parental leave. Use code 45ET55JSYA for a bonus.
Get KOHO Free — Use Code 45ET55JSYAApply through My Service Canada Account at canada.ca. You can apply up to 4 weeks before your expected leave start date. Do not wait until after the birth — early applications help avoid payment delays.
Your employer must issue a Record of Employment (ROE) when you stop working or reduce your hours for maternity leave. The ROE can be submitted electronically by your employer directly to Service Canada, or provided to you to submit with your application.
Once approved, you'll receive a 4-digit access code and must submit biweekly reports online to continue receiving payments. Reports confirm you were not working and not receiving earnings during the period.