Parental Leave Canada 2025: Standard vs Extended EI Benefits

Standard vs. Extended Parental Leave — At a Glance

Feature	Standard Parental	Extended Parental
Duration (shared total)	40 weeks (max per parent: 35)	69 weeks (max per parent: 61)
Benefit rate	55% of insurable earnings	33% of insurable earnings
Maximum weekly benefit	$668/week	$401/week
Parental sharing bonus	5 extra weeks if both parents claim	8 extra weeks if both parents claim
Hours required	600 insurable hours	600 insurable hours
Must be taken by	Within 52 weeks of birth/placement	Within 78 weeks of birth/placement

The parental sharing bonus: If both parents each take at least 5 weeks (standard) or 8 weeks (extended), the family gets an additional 5 or 8 weeks added to the total pool. This incentivizes shared parental leave between partners.

How Much Will You Receive?

Standard parental leave (55%)

Annual Salary	Weekly Benefit	35 Weeks Total
$40,000	$423	$14,808
$55,000	$582	$20,356
$63,200+	$668 (max)	$23,380

Extended parental leave (33%)

Annual Salary	Weekly Benefit	61 Weeks Total
$40,000	$254	$15,473
$55,000	$349	$21,278
$63,200+	$401 (max)	$24,461

Note: Extended parental leave pays a lower weekly rate but for a longer period. The total amount received over the full leave is roughly similar — the choice is about cash flow vs. time at home.

How Two Parents Can Share Parental Leave

Parental benefits can be split between two parents in any way they choose, as long as neither parent exceeds the maximum weeks. Here are some common scenarios:

Scenario	Parent A Takes	Parent B Takes	Total Weeks
One parent takes all (standard)	35 weeks	0 weeks	35 weeks
Both share equally (standard + bonus)	20 weeks	20 weeks	40 weeks (5 bonus)
One parent takes all (extended)	61 weeks	0 weeks	61 weeks
Both share equally (extended + bonus)	34.5 weeks	34.5 weeks	69 weeks (8 bonus)

Both parents can be on parental leave at the same time, but the weeks still count against the shared pool. Taking leave simultaneously reduces the total duration but maximizes time together as a family in the early weeks.

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Adoption and Parental Benefits

Parental EI benefits apply equally to adoptive parents. When a child is placed with you for the purpose of adoption:

Both adoptive parents can claim parental benefits on the same timeline as biological parents
The same 600-hour requirement applies to each parent
The parental sharing bonus applies — if both parents claim at least 5 weeks (standard), 5 extra weeks are added
Leave must begin within 52 weeks of placement (standard) or 78 weeks (extended)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from standard to extended parental leave after I start?

No. Once you choose standard or extended parental leave and your claim is approved, you cannot switch. The choice is made when you apply and is binding for the duration of your claim. Consider your financial situation carefully before choosing — extended pays less per week but for longer.

What is the parental leave "bonus" weeks and how do I get them?

The parental sharing bonus adds 5 extra weeks to a standard parental claim (or 8 weeks to an extended claim) when both parents each take a minimum number of weeks. For standard, each parent must claim at least 5 weeks. The bonus weeks can be taken by either parent. This is automatic — no special application needed beyond both parents filing their own separate claims.

Does the non-birthing parent also have a waiting period?

No. The 1-week waiting period is only served once per family per birth or adoption event. If the birth mother has already served the waiting period on her maternity claim, the other parent does not need to serve it again on their parental claim.

Can same-sex couples access parental benefits?

Yes. EI parental benefits are available to all parents regardless of gender or family structure. Same-sex couples follow the same rules as opposite-sex couples, including the parental sharing bonus. Both parents must each have 600 insurable hours to each claim separately.