In Canada, there are two main maternity leave benefit programs – regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP). To qualify for maternity leave benefits in most parts of Canada, you must have worked a minimum number of insurable hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last EI claim.
How many insurable hours do you need for regular EI maternity benefits?
To qualify for regular EI maternity benefits in most parts of Canada, you must have worked at least 600 insurable hours in the 52 weeks before your claim or since your last EI claim. This includes hours worked as an employee or self-employed individual.
Insurable hours include hours when you were working and being paid, as well as hours when you were not working but receiving paid leave, vacation pay or certain other types of remuneration. Some examples of insurable hours are:
- Hours you worked for an employer and received wages
- Paid vacation or sick leave
- Paid maternity or parental leave
- Workers’ compensation benefits for lost wages
- Certain severance and termination pay
Self-employed individuals must have earned at least $7,555 in the 52 weeks prior to their claim (equivalent to about 600 hours at minimum wage) to qualify for maternity benefits.
How many hours do you need for the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan?
In the province of Quebec, maternity and parental leave benefits are administered through the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) rather than the regular federal EI system.
To receive QPIP maternity leave benefits, you must have earned at least $2,000 in insurable earnings in the 52 weeks prior to the claim. This is equivalent to about 420 to 500 insurable hours, depending on your earnings.
Some exceptions and special cases
In some cases, you may qualify for maternity benefits even if you do not meet the minimum 600 hour requirement:
- New entrants and re-entrants: You may qualify if you have entered or re-entered the workforce in the last 52 weeks and have accumulated at least the minimum insurable earnings required ($7,555 across Canada, $2,000 in Quebec).
- Presumed insurable hours: Hours may be allotted to individuals in special scenarios, like those on job-protected leave, apprentices, or reservists.
- Combined hours: Combined hours of both parents may be used after the birth of a child in some cases.
- Compassionate care benefits: If you received these EI benefits in the last 52 weeks, you may qualify with fewer hours.
It’s best to contact Service Canada or the QPIP program to determine if you qualify in special cases.
What if you are part-time, casual, or an hourly worker?
Part-time, casual, hourly, and seasonal workers can qualify for maternity leave benefits as long as they meet the minimum hours requirement in the last 52 weeks or since their last EI claim.
Your insurable hours are what matter – not your employment status. So whether you worked full-time or part-time, you can qualify as long as you accumulated at least 600 insurable hours (or 420-500 hours in Quebec).
Tips for part-time and non-full year workers
If you are a part-time, casual, seasonal, contract, or hourly employee, here are some tips that can help you meet the hour requirements for EI maternity leave:
- Look at your hours over the last 52 weeks, not just your current weekly schedule. You may have more hours than you realize.
- Take on additional shifts or temporary work prior to your leave if needed to boost your insurable hours.
- Check if any unpaid leave, remuneration, or special benefits count as insurable hours.
- Save your vacation and sick pay to use just before your leave starts to accrue extra hours.
- Make sure your employer is properly reporting all your insurable hours.
- Inform your employer early about your planned maternity leave so you can work together to maximize your hours.
How do you calculate your insurable hours?
To figure out if you have the 600 (or 420-500 in Quebec) required hours to qualify for maternity leave, follow these steps:
- Identify your last interruption of earnings (your last EI claim or start of employment).
- Look at your pay stubs and records for the last 52 weeks or since your last interruption.
- Add up all insurable hours worked. Include overtime, paid leave, vacation, etc.
- For self-employed, calculate your earnings over 52 weeks and divide by minimum wage.
- Compare your total insurable hours to the maternity leave requirement.
- Check your Record of Employment (ROE) to confirm your employer reported your insurable hours correctly.
An accountant, payroll administrator or HR advisor can help calculate your hours. Service Canada can also provide your verified insurable hours.
What documentation do you need to prove insurable hours?
When applying for EI maternity benefits, Service Canada will ask for documents to confirm your insurable hours, such as:
- Record of Employment (ROE) from all employers in the last 52 weeks
- Pay stubs showing hours worked, vacation, sick leave, etc.
- Work contracts showing expected hours
- Time sheets signed by employer
- Accounting records (for self-employed)
Having complete, accurate documentation will help avoid delays in processing your EI claim. Make sure your employer(s) fill out your ROE correctly.
What if you do not have enough insurable hours?
If it looks like you may fall short of the 600 hour minimum for EI maternity benefits, here are some options:
- Check if any unpaid leave, severance or termination pay might count as insurable hours.
- Ask your employer to top up your hours by allowing you to use vacation time or take on extra shifts.
- Delay the start of your maternity leave by a few weeks to give you time to accumulate more hours.
- Check if you had valid job-protected leave that results in presumed insurable hours.
- See if combining your hours with your spouse meets the requirement.
- Consider applying for your province’s maternity leave program, which may have different requirements.
- Inquire about your company’s supplemental maternity leave benefits.
If you are not eligible for paid leave, you may still be able to take up to 17 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave under your provincial legislation.
Key takeaways
Here are the key points to keep in mind when it comes to insurable hours for maternity leave in Canada:
- You need 600 hours in most provinces, 420-500 in Quebec.
- Insurable hours include paid work, vacation, sick leave, overtime, etc.
- Part-time and non-full year workers can qualify by meeting the hour minimum.
- Track your hours carefully and get documentation from your employer.
- Special rules may allow you to qualify with fewer hours.
- Explore all options if you are falling short of the required hours.
Conclusion
Making sure you understand Canada’s maternity leave eligibility rules on insurable hours is key to accessing benefits.
Tracking your hours, getting employer documentation and confirming your ROE are important steps. If your hours fall short, look into special cases, combined hours, company benefits, and unpaid leave.
With some advance planning, proper records and discussions with your employer, most working mothers can qualify for maternity benefits in Canada.