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QPIP: Quebec Parental Insurance Plan Benefits and Plans

Updated

Quebec runs its own parental insurance plan. Quebec residents get maternity, paternity, parental and adoption benefits from the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) instead of from EI, and pay QPIP premiums along with a lower EI premium. They still use EI for regular, sickness and caregiving benefits.

Who qualifies

QPIP is open to Quebec residents who earned at least $2,000 of insurable earnings in the reference period and who paid (or owe) QPIP or EI premiums in that period, and whose earnings stopped or dropped by at least 40% because of the birth or adoption. Self-employed workers are covered automatically; for them the test is that the time spent on the business dropped by at least 40%.

The two plans

You choose between a basic plan (more weeks at a lower rate) and a special plan (fewer weeks at a higher rate). Both parents must use the same plan, and the first parent to apply chooses it for both.

Basic planSpecial plan
Maternity (birth parent)18 weeks at 70%15 weeks at 75%
Paternity (other parent, not shareable)5 weeks at 70%3 weeks at 75%
Parental (shareable)7 weeks at 70% + 25 weeks at 55%25 weeks at 75%
Extra shared weeks if each parent takes at least 8 / 6 parental weeks43
Total, without the extra weeks55 weeks43 weeks
Maximum weekly benefit (2026)$1,386.54$1,485.58

Sources: Gouvernement du Québec, choice of plan and types of benefits; QPIP, 2026 maximum insurable earnings.

The maximum weekly benefit is the rate times the maximum insurable earnings of $103,000 divided by 52: 70% gives $1,386.54 and 75% gives $1,485.58.

QPIP compared with EI

QPIPEI maternity and parental
Rate55% to 75%55% (standard) or 33% (extended parental)
Maximum insurable earnings$103,000 (2026)$68,900 (2026)
Weeks only the other parent can takePaternity weeksNone; extra weeks unlock only if both share
To qualify$2,000 of insurable earnings600 insured hours
Self-employedCovered automaticallyOnly if registered for EI special benefits

See EI maternity and parental benefits for the federal rules.

Premiums

Quebec workers pay QPIP premiums on their earnings up to the maximum insurable earnings, and a reduced EI premium (see EI contribution rates). QPIP premium rates fell 13% for 2026. Self-employed workers pay 0.764% of their eligible income, up to $786.92 in 2026, when they file their Quebec return.

Tax

QPIP benefits are taxable. They are reported on an RL-6 slip for your Quebec return and a T4E slip for your federal return.

Applying

Apply online through the QPIP website. Because both parents must use the plan chosen by the first parent to apply, agree on the plan before either of you applies.

Sources

The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 23, 2026 and September 28, 2026. How we check facts.