Planning for parental leave in Ontario? Federal EI provides maternity and parental benefits — here's exactly how much you'll receive and how the standard vs extended option affects your income.
Ontario EI Parental Benefits — 2026 Basics
Unlike Quebec (which uses QPIP), Ontario uses federal EI for maternity and parental benefits. The key difference: EI in Ontario requires 600 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks to qualify.
| Benefit | Weeks | Rate | Max/Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity (birth parent only) | 15 | 55% | |
| Standard parental (either/both) | 35 | 55% | |
| Extended parental (either/both) | 61 | 33% |
Sharing Bonus — Extra Weeks
If both parents share parental leave (each takes at least 1 week), additional weeks are unlocked:
- Standard: 35 → 40 weeks (5 bonus weeks)
- Extended: 61 → 69 weeks (8 bonus weeks)
Sample Calculation — ,000 Salary
Weekly EI: ,326 × 55% = /week (at maximum)
Maternity (15 wks): × 15 = ,935
Standard parental (35 wks): × 35 = ,515
Total (50 weeks): ,450
Employer Top-Up Plans
Many Ontario employers — especially in government, banking and tech — offer Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) plans that top up EI to 75–100% of salary. Check your employment contract or HR manual for details.
Do I pay EI premiums on my EI benefits?
No. EI benefits are taxable income (you'll receive a T4E) but you do not pay EI premiums on benefits received. Federal and Ontario tax are withheld from your EI payments at the rate you request on your application.