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Frequently Asked Questions
 What are parental benefits?
Parental benefits are payable either to the biological or adoptive parents while they are caring for a new-born or an adopted child, up to a maximum of 35 weeks. It is administered through the Employment Insurance program.
source: HRDC: Maternity, Parental, and Sickness Benefits
How do I qualify for parental benefits?
To receive parental benefits you are required to have worked for 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim. You must sign a statement declaring the newborn's date of birth, or, when there is an adoption, the child's date of placement for the purpose of the adoption, and the name and address of the adoption authority.
source: HRDC: Maternity, Parental, and Sickness Benefits
What information do I need to bring with me when I appy for parental benefits?
You will need the following in order to apply for benefits:
- your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
- a Record of Employment (ROE) from each job held over the last 52 weeks. If you do not have your ROE after 14 days from your last day of work, you must submit proof of employment such as pay stubs;
- personal identification such as your driver's licence, birth certificate or passport if you are applying in person;
- your complete bank information, as shown on your cheque or bank statement (or a voided personalized blank cheque from your current account). This will ensure that your payment of benefits will be made directly to your bank account with Direct Deposit;
a medical certificate indicating how long your illness is expected to last, if you are claiming sickness benefits;
- your detailed version of facts if you have quit or have been dismissed from any job in the last 52 weeks;
- details regarding your most recent employment: Your gross salary (total earnings before deductions including tips and commissions), your gross salary for your last week of work (from Sunday to your last day worked), gross amounts received or to be received (vacation pay, severance pay, pension, pay in lieu of notice or lay of) and other monies.
source: HRDC: Maternity, Parental, and Sickness Benefits
How much notice do I have to give my employer of my intention to take maternity or parental leave?
Most employers require four weeks' notice, and in some cases, you need to give it in writing. (Don't worry, your employer won't expect you to pinpoint the exact date of your baby's arrival.) If you develop a pregnancy-related complication that makes it necessary for you to leave work immediately, you don't need to give the four weeks' notice, of course.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
If I have to leave work early due to complications with my pregnancy, when does my maternity leave officially begin?
You're entitled to a maximum of 15 weeks of sickness benefits, 15 weeks of maternity benefits, and 35 weeks of parental benefits. You may have to collect some maternity benefits before the birth if you have to stop working early in your pregnancy and use up your sickness benefits.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Will I still qualify for my annual raise while I'm on leave?
Yes. In fact, employers can't discriminate against employees on maternity or parental leave, says Spinks. So if your company policy guarantees an annual raise to other employees who are away on leave, you can expect to get yours, too.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Will I miss out on job openings or promotions while I'm on maternity or parental leave?
An employer can't deny an employee opportunities for promotion while she or he is on maternity or parental leave. If yu're worried about missing job openings or promotions, ask your human-resources administrator if the company can notify you in writing of any opportunities that arise while you're away. As a backup, ask your colleagues to notify you, too.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Do I stop accumulating service time with my company while I'm leave?
This issue will be addressed by your collective bargaining agreement if you're a member of a union or your company's human-resources policy if you're a nonunion employee. Employers have to treat employees on maternity or parental leave the same way that they treat emplyees who are on other types of leave.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Will I accrue vacation time while I'm on leave? What about vacation pay?
In most jurisdictions, you are entitled to accrue both vacation time and vacation pay while you're on maternity or parental leave.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Will my extended benefits remain in effect while I'm on maternity or parental leave?
Employees in certain parts of the country are entitled to maintain their benefits, provided that they pay their share of the cost. In Nova Scotia, for instance, employees on leave are required to pay both the employer and the employee portions of the cost of such benefits.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
What will happen to my pension plan while I'm on maternity or parental leave?
In certain jurisdictions, your pension plan will continue to grow as long as you continue to pay your share of the contributions. In other jurisdictions, you're required to pay your share of the contributions plus your employer's share while you're on maternity leave. If you have a pension plan at work, make sure that you ask who is footing the bill for the contributions while you're on leave.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Do I have to let my employer know whether I'll be returning to work after the birth of my baby?
Generally speaking, you must give your employer at least four weeks' notice of your intentions (some employers will accept less).
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Will I automatically get my old job back when I return to work?
It depends on where you live. In some parts of the country, provincial or territorial laws guarantee that you'll get your old job back if it still exists. If it doesn't, your employer has to place you in a position with a comparable salary, benefits and working conditions. In other parts of the country, employers have a bit more latitude in dealing with employees who are returning to work after maternity leave: they can offer you a comparable position even if your original job still exists. Call the employment standards branch of your local branch of government to get the lowdown on your rights.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
What happens if my employer downsizes and my position is eliminated while I'm on maternity leave? Can I be laid off?
Yes. You can be laid off when you're on maternity leave, but your company must be undergoing a legitimate downsizing. Your employer can't just decide to lay you off and hire someone else for your position.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
My parents have invited us to visit them at their condo in Florida. Can I still collect maternity or parental benefits during this time?
Yes. You can collect maternity or parental benefits while you're out of the country but you need to advise HRDC that you will be away.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Can a father take parental leave while the mother is on maternity leave? Are there limits to this?
Employment standards legislation varies from one jurisdiction to the next. In some provinces, an employer that employs both parents can ask them to stagger their maternity and parental leaves. Other provinces don't allow employers to make such stipulations. Both parents can collect parental benefits under employment insurance at the same time for up to a combined maximum of 35 weeks. Contact the employment standards branch of your provincial or territorial ministry of labour to find out what applies to you.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
What is the maximum amount of time a father can take to be with his newborn?
You and your partner can decide which parent will take advantage of parental-leave benefits or whether to share benefits. Thirty-five weeks of employment insurance benefits are available to each set of parents. So a father could spend up to 35 weeks at home with his baby. In some provinces, parents can take additional weeks of unpaid leave. And some employers also provide additional paid or unpaid leave for employees.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
What are the claw-backs on benefits? How do they work?
If you are only receiving maternity, parental or sickness benefits (as opposed to regular employment benefits), your benefits won't be touched, regardless of your income.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
Is it true you can sign up for employment insurance online?
Yes. You can apply for employment insurance benefits online. You will find the application form at www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/dem-app/2.1_e.shtml.
source: Canadian Living, May 2003
©2004, Women's Network PEI, Inc.
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