Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) Benefits in the Event of the Death of a Child

The notion of the death of a child refers to the death of a child after the birth.

There are no specific benefits from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) for the death of a child. However, depending on the situation, you could be eligible for a certain number of weeks of parental insurance benefits.

If your situation concerns a spontaneous or intentional medical termination of pregnancy, a stillbirth or a stillborn child, go to the Termination of Pregnancy page.

In the event of your child’s death, you will continue to receive maternity benefits or benefits exclusive to the person experiencing pregnancy or childbirth. If the child dies during the last or second-to-last week of benefits, you could be eligible for one or two weeks of parental benefits.

You must quickly call the Centre de service à la clientèle at 1-888-610-7727 so that we can update your file. A member of our team will ensure that you will receive all the benefits to which you are entitled.  

At the end of the second week following the week of the child’s death, parents are no longer eligible for the following benefits:

• Paternity or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• Shareable or exclusive parental benefits
• Adoption or welcome and support benefits
• Welcome benefits as part of a surrogacy project

For example, if the child dies on Tuesday, the parent may be entitled to benefits during the week of the death and the following two weeks.  

If the parent already received the maximum number of weeks of benefits to which they were entitled, no benefit will be paid for the week of death, nor for the following two weeks.

In the event of your child’s death, you can receive the benefits provided for pregnancy or childbirth.

It is important to submit your application for benefits as soon as possible, because you cannot receive maternity benefits for pregnancy or childbirth beyond the 20th week after the week of childbirth.

In addition, your benefits cannot begin earlier than six weeks before receipt of your application to QPIP.

If you need help in this regard, please contact the Centre de services à la clientèle at 1-888-610-7727. A member of our team will ensure that you will receive all the benefits to which you are entitled.

A proof of birth is required for parents to be eligible to the following benefits:

• Paternity or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• Shareable or exclusive parental benefits
• Adoption or welcome and support benefits
• Welcome benefits as part of a surrogacy project

Parents are no longer eligible for these benefits at the end of the second week following the week of the child’s death. For example, if the child dies on a Tuesday, the parent may be entitled to benefits during the week of the death and the following two weeks.  

When the death of a child or children occurs in a context of multiple births or adoptions, special rules apply.  

Contact the Centre de service à la clientèle at 1-888-610-7727. A member of our team can explain the benefits to which you could be entitled, depending on your situation.