Maternity, parental, and adoption leave for CUPE 116
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, a pregnant employee can apply for Employment Insurance (EI) and Supplemental Employment Benefits top-up (SEB). 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 (975) 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 $729/week)
| Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary
Week 2-16 (15 weeks): EI benefit topped up to 95% of salary | Additional 5% for Weeks 1-16 will be paid upon return to work for 6 months (975 hours) | Yes |
| Parental | Standard parental benefits
Week 17-51 (35 weeks): 55% of salary to a max of $729/week OR Extended parental benefits Week 17-77 (61 weeks): 33% of salary to a max of $437/week) | For Parental Leave Commencing on May 4, 2026 onwards: Week 17-26 (10 weeks):EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $729/week) topped up to 95% of salary. SEB top-up payments are based on the Canadian Government’s EI standard parental benefit rate. If you choose the extended parental benefit option instead of the standard EI benefit, please note that this will not change the SEB top-up payments. The SEB rate is not affected by the choice for extended or standard parental benefit options. | Additional 5% for Weeks 17-26 will be paid upon return to work for 6 months (975 hours) | Yes |
Birth Parent
Birth parents are eligible for up to 62 weeks of unpaid parental leave (35 weeks standard parental leave or 62 weeks of 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 (975 hours) 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 $729/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 1-62 (62 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $437/week) | For Parental Leave Commencing on May 4, 2026 onwards:
Week 1-10 (10 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $729/week) topped up to 95% of salary. SEB top-up payments are based on the Canadian Government’s EI standard parental benefit rate. If you choose the extended parental benefit option instead of the standard EI benefit, please note that this will not change the SEB top-up payments. The SEB rate is not affected by the choice for extended or standard parental benefit options. | Additional 5% for Weeks 1-10 will be paid upon return to work for 6 months (975 hours) | Yes |
Parental
If the waiting period must be served by the birth parent | Week 1: unpaid
Standard parental benefits Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $729/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 2-62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $437/week) | For Parental Leaves Commencing on May 4, 2026 onwards: Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary Week 2-10 (9 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $729/week) topped up to 95% of salary. SEB top-up payments are based on the Canadian Government’s EI standard parental benefit rate. If you choose the extended parental benefit option instead of the standard EI benefit, please note that this will not change the SEB top-up payments. The SEB rate is not affected by the choice for extended or standard parental benefit options. | Additional 5% for Weeks 1-10 will be paid upon return to work for 6 months (975 hours) | Yes |
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 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
Adopting parent required to serve the waiting period
| Week 1: unpaid
Standard parental benefits Week 2-36 (35 weeks): 55% of salary (max of $729/week) OR Extended parental benefits Week 2-62 (61 weeks): 33% of salary (max of $437/week) | For Parental Leaves Commencing on May 4, 2026 onwards: Week 1 (1 week): 95% of salary Week 2-10 (9 weeks): EI benefit calculated under standard parental option (55% of salary up to a maximum of $729/week) topped up to 95% of salary. SEB top-up payments are based on the Canadian Government’s EI standard parental benefit rate. If you choose the extended parental benefit option instead of the standard EI benefit, please note that this will not change the SEB top-up payments. The SEB rate is not affected by the choice for extended or standard parental benefit options. | Additional 5% for Weeks 1-10 will be paid upon return to work for 6 months (975 hours) | Yes |