How Maternity Leave Works in Quebec explained in simple terms: A Complete Guide to QPIP Benefits
A practical breakdown of QPIP so you can plan your leave, protect your income and avoid costly mistakes
If you are pregnant in Québec or planning a baby, congratulations ! Now, take a deep breath...here comes good news: you live in one of the few places in North America where parental leave is actually generous (side eye to our neighbours down south where, in some cases, dogs are legally required to spend more time with their puppies than women are with their newborns).
That said, the QPIP website feels like it hasn’t been updated since 2007, and is packed with information that isn’t exactly easy to navigate. It is full of rules, exceptions, and traps that can cost you money if you do not plan ahead.
So let’s break it down in a way that makes sense.
What QPIP actually is
QPIP stands for the Québec Parental Insurance Plan. It replaces federal EI for maternity and parental leave in Québec and it is generally more flexible.
There is no minimum number of hours worked: what matters is income. This is a huge win for moms who are self employed, contract workers, or juggling multiple income streams.
Are you eligible ?
Most parents are, even if they are not in a traditional job. Here is the eligibility criteria:
Be a resident of Quebec at the start of the benefit period. If you are self-employed, you must also be a resident of Québec as of December 31st of the previous year
Have paid or owe QPIP premiums (these are usually automatically deducted on your pay)
Have earned at lest $2000,00 in insurable income during the qualifying period
You must also have stopped working or reduced your work activity by at least 40%. This applies whether you are an employee, self employed, or a family type or intermediate resource. In other words, QPIP is not just for your traditional 9 to 5 workers.
The different types of benefits explained
QPIP is not one single benefit: it is a mix of benefits that work together. Here are the different types:
Maternity benefits are for the person who is pregnant and gives birth, and can start as early as the 16th week before your due date.
Paternity benefits are for the parent who did not give birth. They exist so that parent can actually be present to care for the child, not just squeeze in time between meetings. These benefits can start the week the child is born and must generally end no later than 78 weeks after birth.
Parental benefits are for both parents. These weeks can be taken at the same time or at different times, depending on what works best for your family. Some parental weeks are shareable between parents, while others are exclusive and cannot be transferred.
Here is the fun part: if both parents take a minimum number of shareable weeks, bonus weeks unlock. Yes, QPIP rewards teamwork (nudge to your partner).
The Basic and the Special Plan
You have two plans to chose between, and this is one of the most important decisions you will make. You cannot switch plans once the choice is made.
Under the basic plan, you receive a lower weekly amount but for more weeks; under the special plan, you receive a higher weekly amount for fewer weeks as follows:
Note that you will receive the same amount of money under both plans, except the basic plan stretches out the payments. The best plan is not the longest one: it is the one that fits your actual budget, cash flow and desire to go back to work (you might actually want to... eventually).
The qualifying period
Normally, QPIP looks at the 52 weeks before your benefits begin to calculate your income, and they take the average of income earned during the period you worked.
QPIP is calculated using your average weekly insurable income based only on the weeks you actually worked, not the whole year. In other words, a “gap” does not dilute the calculation.
However, if you could not work during that time because of pregnancy, illness, injury, CNESST benefits, EI, or previous QPIP benefits, the qualifying period can be extended up to 104 weeks.
This matters a lot for parents who had complicated pregnancies or employment gaps.
How QPIP calculates how much you get paid
Your benefit amount is based on your insurable income and the plan you choose. It also depends on whether you earn income during your leave and whether you qualify for a low income supplement.
QPIP looks at earnings that were subject to QPIP contributions. This means gross weekly income for employees and net business income for self employed workers. There is a maximum insurable income that is adjusted every year, so the exact cap changes (it is currently $98,000 for 2025).
There is an official benefit calculator on the QPIP website: use it (it’s also on my Ressouces page). Guessing your maternity income is not the vibe.
Can you earn money while on maternity leave ?
Great question: yes, you can, and we love that.
Earning income while receiving QPIP benefits is allowed up to a certain amount per week, but it can affect your benefit payments if you exceed the permitted amount. You need to contact QPIP to figure out the exact amount you are entitled to earn without affecting your benefits. Any amount earned over what is permitted will be deducted from your benefit payment.
Hot tip: you can choose to skip a week of benefits if you know you will earn more income. For side hustle moms, this flexibility is powerful when used carefully.
Common traps that cost parents money
One of the biggest traps is receiving outstanding vacation pay during the first 20 weeks after the birth.
If your employer pays you vacation or a bonus during this period, you must declare them and this may result in the loss of maternity weeks (remember the difference between maternity, paternity and parental benefits). These weeks cannot usually be moved later.
If possible, it is better to arrange for vacation pay and bonuses to be paid before you begin your maternity leave or after your parental leave ends. This is not always controllable because you cannot time when you will give birth, but it is absolutely worth discussing with your employer ahead of time.
Do not forget about taxes
QPIP benefits are taxable income, and the taxes are deducted right off of your benefit payments. However, this can still result in an overpayment i your overall income for the high remains high, so plan accordingly, and April won’t feel rude. You may want to adjust your tax withholdings or set money aside during your leave.
How and when you get paid
QPIP benefits are paid on Sundays and usually cover 2 calendar weeks at a time.
You can receive payments by direct deposit or by cheque. With direct deposit, funds are usually deposited into your account 3 or 4 days after the payment date. Cheques arrive according to Canada Post delivery timelines.
Direct deposit is, well, faster, safer, and simpler.
A quick word about the Safe Maternity Experience program (CNESST)
If your job poses a risk during pregnancy, the CNESST Safe Maternity Experience program may pay income replacement benefits up to 4 weeks before your due date.
If you receive these benefits, you still need to apply for QPIP to determine eligibility. If you are not eligible for QPIP, CNESST benefits may continue until birth.
This program is incredibly helpful and often overlooked.
Disclaimer: Special family situations
QPIP has specific rules for adoption, surrogacy, same sex couples, and multiple births like twins or triplets. These situations can affect how benefits are structured and shared, so it is important to check how your exact scenario is treated if one of those situations apply to you since they are not covered in this article.
Final Hot Money Mom takeaway
Québec has one of the strongest parental leave systems out there, but only if you understand how it works. QPIP rewards planning and punishes assumptions: know your plan, time your income, avoid the traps, and take your leave without financial stress.
Bonding with your baby is a lot easier when your money is handled ahead of time.
Please refer to the QPIP website and my Resources page for more in depth information.
