Planning of Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) Benefit Weeks When a Child Arrives for Adoption

Before applying for benefits, you must determine when you want to receive your benefits.

Adoption benefits (shareable and exclusive) and adoption-related welcome and support benefits may begin no sooner than the week in which the child arrives in the care of one of the parents for adoption.

In the case of an adoption outside Québec, adoption benefits and adoption-related welcome and support benefits may begin five weeks before the date on which the child arrives in the care of one of the parents for adoption.

Unless an exception applies, they must end no later than 78 weeks (18 months) after the child’s arrival.

The date considered as the date of the child's arrival for adoption depends on the type of adoption:

For regular adoption, Indigenous custom adoption and adoption under the Banque Mixte (Mixed Bank) Program, this is the date when the child is placed physically with the family.

For special (intrafamily) adoption and adoption of a child already placed in the foster family, this is the date of the court filing of the application for an order to place the child for adoption.

For an adoption outside Québec, the date of the child’s arrival is

• either the date when the child, who was physically entrusted to the adoptive parents by the relevant authority, arrived in Québec
• or the date when the child is entrusted to the adoptive parents in the province or country of origin by the relevant authority when the parents make the request.

Proof of intention to adopt is required to establish that the child has arrived for adoption. You will receive a request for information, which will indicate the document to provide depending on your situation. This is an official document coming from the authority responsible in Québec.

You may choose how to use and arrange your benefit weeks. They may be taken at the same time by both parents or at different times within the prescribed period. It is possible to divide benefit weeks in order to accommodate the needs and constraints of each parent. 

For example, if your child arrives for adoption on a Wednesday and you worked on the Monday and Tuesday, you may start your benefits on the Sunday just before the child’s arrival and declare your earnings for the Monday and Tuesday. The other option is to start your benefits on the Sunday following the arrival. Choose the option that best suits your personal situation.

When completing your application, you are not required to choose all your benefit weeks at once. You may add, change or cancel benefit weeks by accessing your online file or by contacting the Centre de service à la clientèle.

To better understand benefit weeks, see the examples of benefit week planning.

You must inform your employer of when you plan to take leave, whether or not you are eligible for parental insurance benefit weeks.  

You must see the list and terms and conditions that apply to family-related leave.