Examples of benefit week planning for a surrogacy project

Here are some examples that take the parents’ reality into account. The basic plan was considered in each situation.

Maude would like to receive weeks of exclusive benefits during her pregnancy and after giving birth. She stops working 12 weeks before her due date. When completing her application, Maude allocates the 18 weeks of exclusive benefits as follows:

• 12 weeks of exclusive benefits before her due date
• 6 weeks of exclusive benefits after her due date

Inès wants to gradually return to work during her leave. Inès began receiving her exclusive benefits 10 weeks before giving birth. After giving birth, Inès has 20 weeks to gradually return to work and take her 8 weeks of unused benefits.

Inès will receive 18 benefit weeks:

• 10 weeks of exclusive benefits before giving birth
• 8 weeks of exclusive benefits spread over the 20 weeks after giving birth
  • 4 weeks of exclusive benefits from the moment she gives birth
  • followed by a 2-week return to work
  • 2 weeks of exclusive benefits
  • followed by a 2-week return to work
  • 2 weeks of exclusive benefits

Florence and Alex would like to receive additional weeks of parental benefits. By planning ahead, they ensure that each of them will receive eight shareable welcome benefit weeks.

Florence will receive 46 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 13 shareable welcome benefit weeks
• 28 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional four weeks)

Alex will receive 13 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 8 shareable parental benefit weeks

Total for both parents:  59 benefit weeks

Mark and Rafael want their child to stay at home as long as possible. So they decide that after the week of the child's arrival, Mark will stay alone with their child for the first part of the leave. Rafael will stay alone with the child for the second part of the leave. In addition, because they have shared enough shareable parental benefit weeks, they are entitled to four additional parental benefit weeks.

Mark will receive 29 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 6 shareable welcome benefit weeks
• 18 shareable parental benefit weeks

Rafael will receive 30 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 7 shareable welcome benefit weeks
• 18 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional four weeks)

Total for both parents:  59 benefit weeks

Pier-Luc and Louis have seasonal jobs all summer. They choose not to take benefits during the summer period to work. In any case, they have 78 weeks to take their benefit weeks. In addition, because they have shared enough shareable parental benefit weeks, they are entitled to four additional parental benefit weeks.

Pier-Luc will receive 36 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 13 shareable welcome benefit weeks
• 18 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks)

Louis will receive 23 benefit weeks:

• 5 weeks of paternity benefits or exclusive benefits to the parent who did not give birth
• 18 shareable parental benefit weeks (including the additional weeks)

Total for both parents:  59 benefit weeks