Dads don’t babysit, because dads are parents too. Among all the other worries, concerns and responsibilities that go into preparing for a new baby, you might be thinking about how to apply for paternity leave. Are you even eligible? I know there are lots of places that don’t offer paid leave for new fathers at all. In fact, up until March 2019, Canadian dads weren’t necessarily guaranteed paid parental leave at all.

That’s because while paid parental leave in Canada can be shared between the two parents, if the mother takes as much as she can, that leaves the father with nothing. Or at least that was the case up until last spring. At that time, the Government of Canada expanded the parental benefits program (under employment insurance) to be a bit more inclusive. And I’m going to be taking advantage of this when Baby Kwan #2 shows up next month.

EI Maternity and Parental Benefits

You can get all the detailed information from the official government page, but here are the most important bits for dads interested in paid paternity leave.

EI maternity and parental benefits in Canada

Maternity benefits only apply if you’re the one who’s pregnant or giving birth. This allows for up to 15 weeks at 55% of your regular pay, up to a weekly maximum of $573.

Parental benefits, on the other hand, are available to all parents, including parents of a newly adopted child. The first step is deciding whether you want standard parental benefits or extended parental benefits. If you are sharing benefits with your partner, you must both choose the same option. And once you start receiving EI benefits, you cannot change options.

  • Standard parental benefits have a rate of 55% with a weekly maximum payment of $573.
  • Extended parental benefits have a rate of 33% with a weekly maximum payment of $344.

In effect, the mother can have up to a combined 12 months of paid leave with standard parental benefits, and up to 18 months with extended parental benefits. The total payout is actually the same, just stretched out over a longer period of time. Of noteworthy importance in the context of paternity benefits in Canada, though, is that one parent cannot take all of the standard or extended parental benefits. That leaves us with at least a slice of the pie.

How Many Weeks of Paid Paternity Leave?

For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that the mother takes as much paid maternity and parental leave as she can. I know that this can perpetuate the myth of Supermom and designate the mother as the primary caregiver by default. This can be problematic and can open up a whole other world of conversation. But, let’s leave that for another day for now.

If Mom takes as much leave as she can, how much does that leave (no pun intended) for Dad?

Baby hand in father's hand

If you choose standard parental benefits, that provides up to 40 weeks of paid leave. However, one parent can receive no more than 35 weeks of standard benefits. That means you, dear father, get five weeks of paid leave at 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings, up to weekly maximum of $573. You’ll hit the maximum if you earn over $54,200 a year.

If you choose extended parental benefits, that provides up to 69 weeks of paid leave. Again, not all of that can be taken by just one of you. One parent can receive no more than 61 weeks of extended benefits. That means you’re eligible for up to eight weeks of paid leave at 33%, up to a weekly maximum of $344. And again, you’ll hit that max payment if your annual earnings are over $54,200.

It’s also important to note that EI benefits, including parental benefits, are considered taxable earnings. Ottawa and Victoria want their cut of the pie too.

Where and How Do I Apply?

Every employer is going to be a little different, so it’s best if you start this conversation with HR and/or your manager as early in the process as possible. We also want to normalize the practice of new fathers taking paternity leave, a practice that is still stigmatized in some workplaces. Again, I needn’t remind you that dads are parents too. And you shouldn’t feel bad for being a good dad. Be the change you want to see in the world, one diaper change at a time.

So, what’s the process to apply for parental benefits in Canada?

  1. From what I understand, your employer will need to submit your record of employment (ROE) to Service Canada directly. That’s how the government will determine your eligibility and how much you’ll receive.
  2. You should then apply for parental benefits on the Service Canada website as soon as possible after you stop working. You’ll need about an hour to complete the online application.
  3. Service Canada will mail you a benefit statement with a 4-digit access code. Why they still use regular postal mail for something like this is beyond me.
  4. Check your application status via your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by contacting Service Canada.

Daddy-Baby Bonding Time

The first time around, I didn’t take any paid leave at all. I didn’t even take any unpaid paternity leave, because I was a self-employed freelance writer. Since I didn’t register for EI special benefits for self-employed people, I wasn’t eligible to receive any benefits. I kept my business afloat and worked mostly as normal. Productivity as a new work-at-home dad those first few weeks and months was a challenge, to be sure. I had to get work done, so I did, even in a sleep-deprived state.

This time around will be different. Since I transitioned to more conventional employment last year (though I still work remotely), I am eligible for paid parental benefits. So, I’m going to take some time off from work. That way, we can focus on the new baby (and still give Addie some individual attention too). It’s only a few short weeks of paid leave, but they’ll be a very welcome few weeks of paid leave.