How Is the Benefit Amount Determined for a Pregnancy or Birth?

The benefit amount is based on insurable earnings earned or received during a specific period, that is, the qualifying period. This period varies depending on the working status.

Insurable earnings are those subject to Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) contributions.

The qualifying period is normally the 52 weeks preceding the benefit period.

When applying for benefits, you must provide your gross employment income (before deductions) as well as the number of Records of Employment you have received during your qualifying period.

The Record of Employment (commonly referred to as a termination of employment form) is issued by your employer(s) when you stop working. Pay stubs and tax slips (RL-1 and T4 slip) are not considered Records of Employment.

If you contribute to the QPIP but not to employment insurance because of the nature of your job, your employer(s) must fill out and provide you with the Relevé de renseignements sur l’emploi form. You can upload a scanned or photographed copy of the form to your QPIP online file or send it by mail to the Centre de service à la clientèle.

Unless an exception applies, your benefit amount will be based on the average of the insurable earnings from the last 26 weeks of your qualifying period.

Use the benefit calculation simulator to find out the estimated benefit amount to which you may be entitled.

The qualifying period is normally the calendar year (12-month period that begins on January 1 and ends on December 31) preceding your benefit period if you had business activities during that period.  

If this is the first year of your business activities, the qualifying period is the year in which the benefit period begins.

When applying for benefits, you must provide the amount that you have declared or will declare on line 27 of Schedule L of your Québec income tax return.

If you have income as both a wage earner and a self-employed worker, the calculation that is more advantageous will be granted to you.

Unless an exception applies, your benefit amount will be based on 1/52 of the insurable earnings in your qualifying period.

Use the benefit calculation simulator to find out the estimated benefit amount to which you may be entitled.

The qualifying period is the calendar year (12-month period that begins on January 1 and ends on December 31) preceding your benefit period.

If you offer services as an intermediate resource or a family-type resource and this is the first year of your business activities, the qualifying period is the calendar year in which the benefit period begins.

When applying for benefits, you must provide the amount that you have declared or will declare on line 40 of Schedule L of your Québec income tax return.

Unless an exception applies, your benefit amount will be based on 1/52 of the insurable earnings in your qualifying period.

Use the benefit calculation simulator to find out the estimated benefit amount to which you may be entitled.

If you were unable to work or if your insurable earnings decreased during the qualifying period, you may be able to apply for an extension or a new qualifying period. To qualify, you must have experienced one of the following situations:

• You received employment insurance benefits or benefits linked to an Emploi-Québec employment assistance measure.
• You were ill, injured, pregnant or in quarantine.
• You were detained in a prison, penitentiary or other similar establishment.
• You were on strike or locked out.
• You received indemnities from the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail.
• You received benefits under the QPIP.
• You received indemnities from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
• You received indemnities under a salary insurance plan.

The Maximum Insurable Earnings considered when calculating benefits are $98,000 in 2025 and $103,000 in 2026. This income is adjusted on January 1 of each year at the rate set by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).

Interim benefits (temporary amount) may be paid to all types of workers (self-employed, wage earners, those responsible for intermediate resources or family-type resources) before the exact benefit amount can be determined.

A specific condition applies to wage earners. To be eligible for interim benefits, your normal gross weekly salary must have been the same from one pay period to the next over the 26 weeks preceding the start date of your benefits.

When completing your application for benefits, you may provide an estimate of your gross salary (before deductions) or your net business income. This estimate will be used to calculate your interim benefit amount.

If your income estimate is too high, you may be required to repay any excess amount.

Once your income is confirmed, your benefit amount will be recalculated to determine the final amount.

If your average weekly earnings are less than the equivalent of a normal work week of 40 hours paid at the general minimum wage rate effective in Québec, you could be eligible for an increased benefit.

This increase is applied automatically without requiring any action from you.

If you have received or will soon receive a retroactive pay increase related to pay equity or following the signing of your collective agreement, please be aware that retroactive pay could affect your benefit amount, depending on your situation.

For more information, please contact the Centre de service à la clientèle at 1-888-610-7727.