How much will I pay each month on parental leave?

See what benefits and employer top-up cover, and how much you’ll need to pay yourself.

Monthly leave estimate · Planning estimate · No account required

Amounts in CAD

The most you’d pay out of pocket

$3,313in month 1 of your leave.

After benefits, any employer top-up and other income you include.

What you pay each month

Monthly costs $5,500

Most you’d pay

$3,313

Month 1

Income covers $2,187

Monthly average

$2,609

Across your leave

Income covers $2,679

You pay this partIncome covers this part

Benefits and top-up can change during leave. The average includes any shorter final month. Figures are after estimated tax withholding.

Your leave pay

An estimate for one parent. Adjust the example to your benefit and employer plan.

Where do you live?

Your yearly pay before tax

For the parent taking leave.

Which leave are you taking?

Your parental benefit planStandard pays more each week. Extended spreads the parental payments over more weeks.

Does your employer offer a leave top-up?A top-up is extra pay from your employer on top of benefits. Check with HR if you’re not sure.

EI benefit rates: 2026. Estimated withholding: 10%. Leave pay is shown after that deduction; your final tax bill may differ. One week without EI benefits is included.

Dates, tax and other costs

Claim start dateUsed for benefit rates and the EI waiting-week rule.EI waiting week already served or waived

Estimated tax taken off leave pay%

Other debt payments / month

Only add payments not already in household costs.

Calculation details & sources

Monthly estimates. Costs and other income are spread across 52 weeks per year. Planning months are 4⅓ weeks, with benefit weeks divided proportionally at month boundaries. The final month includes only the remaining leave weeks. The main result is the largest monthly gap. The average includes every planning month, including any shorter final month.

Employer pay. Only money received during leave is included, with weekly payments from the first paid week you enter. Canadian top-ups are calculated for the weeks covered by the employer plan, then shifted to that payment week. Payments after returning to work are excluded. Income left over in one month can help with later costs; the chart shows each month’s gap before using it.

What to confirm. EI or QPIP amounts depend on eligibility, earnings history, claim timing and your selected plan. Child benefits such as CCB aren’t included. Figures are estimates for your time on leave. Payment delays and unexpected costs can require a separate buffer.

You have plans. Fred has your finances.

Fred is your financial copilot in deezbills. He works through leave benefits, baby costs and the return to work alongside your bills and savings.

He researches your options, updates your budget and saves the plan you approve. Less for you to manage as your family grows.

Meet Fred Explore deezbills

Common questions

How much will I need to pay myself?

Your out-of-pocket amount is household costs minus benefits, employer top-up received during leave and any other income entered. The main result shows the month with the largest gap. The second bar shows the monthly average across your leave. Benefits and top-up can change, so not every month will be the same.

Are the income amounts before or after tax?

Enter the leave parent’s salary before tax and other household income after tax. The weekly leave payments shown have estimated tax withholding deducted. This is a cash-flow estimate, not a calculation of your final tax bill.

How do EI, QPIP and employer top-ups work here?

The province selects EI or Quebec’s QPIP. Benefit amounts and paid weeks depend on the plan and leave type. An employer top-up raises total pay to the share of salary entered for the number of weeks entered; it is not that amount added on top of benefits. Confirm your eligibility and employer terms. Only employer pay received during leave is included; pay after returning to work cannot cover bills during leave.

Does this include baby costs and other benefits?

Include expected baby costs in your monthly household costs. CCB and other child benefits are not included. If payments arrive late or expenses change, you may need more savings than this estimate shows.