•Benefit amounts: 67% of pre-leave salary for the first 180 days (6 months), then 50%
•The Post-Birth Leave Support Benefit was introduced in April 2025. When both parents take qualifying childcare leave, 13% is added on top of the 67% childcare leave benefit for up to 28 days, giving a combined rate of 80% (roughly full take-home pay). You must also work no more than 10 days (or 80 hours) during the leave
•Eligibility: (1) you are enrolled in employment insurance, and (2) in the 2 years before your leave starts you have at least 12 complete months with 11 or more paid days (or 80 or more paid hours)
•Social insurance premiums (health insurance + employee pension) are waived during childcare leave — your net pay may stay similar to the benefit amount
•Leave can be taken until the child turns 1. If daycare cannot be secured, leave can be extended up to age 2
•Paternity leave at birth: up to 4 weeks (28 days) within 8 weeks of the child's birth, which can be split into two periods. This is separate from ordinary childcare leave
•A separate benefit exists for shortened working hours: if you reduce your contracted hours to care for a child under 2, you receive about 10% of your wages. It is claimed separately from childcare leave benefits