What benefits will I receive during a maternity, parental or adoption leave?
The following tables show the Employment Insurance benefits and Supplemental Employment Benefits top-up that you may be eligible for.
Pregnant employee
Pregnant employees are eligible for up to 78 weeks of unpaid leave (17 weeks maternity plus 35 weeks standard parental leave or 61 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, the pregnant employee can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) and Supplemental Employment Benefits top-up (SEB) (available during the maternity leave only). For parental leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes the pregnant employee claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).
Type of leave | EI benefits from Service Canada | SEB top-up from UBC | Additional SEB top-up upon return to work? | 6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up? |
Maternity
| Week 1: unpaid
Week 2-16 (15 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week) | Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-16 (15 weeks): EI benefit topped up to 95% of salary | No | No |
Parental | Standard parental benefits
Week 17-51 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 17 – 77 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week) | Weeks 17-36 (20 weeks):EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary
The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option. If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 10 weeks of SEB top-up. | No | No |
Birth parent
Birth parents are eligible for up to 62 weeks of unpaid parental leave (35 weeks standard parental leave or 62 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, a birth parent can apply for Employment Insurance (EI). For parental leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes the birth parent claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).
Type of leave | EI benefits from Service Canada | SEB top-up from UBC | Additional SEB top-up upon return to work? | 6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up? |
Parental
Birth parent is not required to serve waiting period (satisfied by pregnant parent during maternity leave)
| Standard parental benefits
Week 1-35 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 1 – 61 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week) | Week 1-20 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary.
The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option. If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 10 weeks of SEB top-up.
| No | No |
Parental
Birth parent is required to serve waiting period | Week 1: unpaid
Standard parental benefits Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week) | Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-21 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option. If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 11 weeks of SEB top-up (one week waiting period plus 10 weeks). | No | No |
Adopting parent
Adopting parents are eligible for up to 62 weeks of unpaid adoption leave (35 weeks standard parental leave or 62 weeks extended parental leave). During the unpaid leave, the adopting parent can apply for Employment Insurance (EI). For adoption leave, two parents may share the EI parental benefits and both parents are required to choose the same option, either standard or extended. You cannot change between options once parental benefits have been paid. The scenario below assumes one adopting parent claims the full EI parental benefits (if there is sharing, then the payments will be adjusted).
Type of leave | EI benefits | SEB top-up | Additional SEB top-up upon return to work? | 6 month return to work requirement in order to keep SEB top-up? |
Parental | Week 1: unpaid
Standard parental benefits Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $668/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 2 – 62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $401/week) | Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-21 (20 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $668/week) topped up to 95% of salary The SEB top-up is calculated based on the standard parental leave option and the total dollar amount paid to you for the leave remains the same if you choose the extended parental leave option. If your parental leave started prior to August 1, 2023, you are eligible for 11 weeks of SEB top-up (one week waiting period plus 10 weeks). | No | No |