Maternity Leave Canada Benefits?

KatVM · Mar 30th, 2012, 19:39 PM

To any ladies living in Alberta, Canada. Or I think anywhere is Canada but I do not know if it changes on province.

I went into the Canada Service building today to ask about maternity leave and they said as long as I have 600 hours from the time I apply for benefits in August of this year to that day last year that I will qualify for full benefits. My questions is how does it get decided how much I get? I know it is suppose to be 55% of my weekly earnings however I worked october to december a total of about 215 insurable hours and then took off work till march 9th when i started my new job. How do i figure out how much I will receive if I did not work constantly throughout the last 52 weeks leading up to the start of my leave?

Liesje · Mar 30th, 2012, 19:50 PM

It depends on a lot of things, so there is no available online calculator.

The max you'll get is $485/week (before tax)... One thing I've heard though is not to spend it like it's yours because at tax time, they'll rake it all back in... Most people I know who are now coming back from mat leave are all owing thousands now.

AlwaysPraying · Apr 21st, 2012, 13:23 PM

It's nearly impossible to figure out. I had to wait until they had my forms from my employer and they told me what I could expect. The best thing you can do is see how much you made over the last 52 weeks and take 55% of it as a guess. It's a giant pain!

magnolius · Apr 25th, 2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liesje

It depends on a lot of things, so there is no available online calculator.

The max you'll get is $485/week (before tax)... One thing I've heard though is not to spend it like it's yours because at tax time, they'll rake it all back in... Most people I know who are now coming back from mat leave are all owing thousands now.

You mean they don't tax it when they issue it? That'll be a drag to put money aside.

AlwaysPraying · Apr 25th, 2012, 19:09 PM

I'm sure it happens but it never haD

Liesje · Apr 28th, 2012, 17:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnolius

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liesje

It depends on a lot of things, so there is no available online calculator.

The max you'll get is $485/week (before tax)... One thing I've heard though is not to spend it like it's yours because at tax time, they'll rake it all back in... Most people I know who are now coming back from mat leave are all owing thousands now.

You mean they don't tax it when they issue it? That'll be a drag to put money aside.

Yup... For me it's better that way, my baby was born in April so by the time I have to pay tax on it, I'll be back at work and able to pay... I need all the money I can get for now so I don't have to use credit cards.

tasha41 · Apr 28th, 2012, 18:39 PM

55% of your average earnings over the last 26 weeks (I think**).

I didn't have to pay extra taxes the year I was on mat leave (Mar-Dec 2009) but also got a tiny return (under $100).

I'm currently on EI medical leave and they are literally taking $3/week off me in taxes so I HOPE I overpay the rest of the year...

AlwaysPraying · Apr 28th, 2012, 18:50 PM

My return was under $100 as well. I was on mat leave from sept - sept and worked part time sept - dec.

Liesje · May 2nd, 2012, 18:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tasha41

55% of your average earnings over the last 26 weeks (I think**).

Yup, but 55% to a maximum of $45,900... So even if you made $100,000 a year, you're still only getting $426/week

($485 before taxes)

KatVM · May 2nd, 2012, 20:54 PM

Thank you ladies for all your responses, unfortunately I can not collect at all due to having to quit because of pregnancy problems.

Mar 30th, 2012, 19:39 PM	#1
KatVM Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 707	Maternity Leave Canada Benefits? To any ladies living in Alberta, Canada. Or I think anywhere is Canada but I do not know if it changes on province. I went into the Canada Service building today to ask about maternity leave and they said as long as I have 600 hours from the time I apply for benefits in August of this year to that day last year that I will qualify for full benefits. My questions is how does it get decided how much I get? I know it is suppose to be 55% of my weekly earnings however I worked october to december a total of about 215 insurable hours and then took off work till march 9th when i started my new job. How do i figure out how much I will receive if I did not work constantly throughout the last 52 weeks leading up to the start of my leave?

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Mar 30th, 2012, 19:50 PM	#2
Liesje Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,825	It depends on a lot of things, so there is no available online calculator. The max you'll get is $485/week (before tax)... One thing I've heard though is not to spend it like it's yours because at tax time, they'll rake it all back in... Most people I know who are now coming back from mat leave are all owing thousands now.

Status: Offline

Apr 21st, 2012, 13:23 PM	#3
AlwaysPraying Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,147	It's nearly impossible to figure out. I had to wait until they had my forms from my employer and they told me what I could expect. The best thing you can do is see how much you made over the last 52 weeks and take 55% of it as a guess. It's a giant pain!

Status: Offline

Apr 25th, 2012, 19:09 PM	#5
AlwaysPraying Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,147	I'm sure it happens but it never haD

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2012, 18:39 PM	#7
tasha41 Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The True North Strong & Free Posts: 25,627	55% of your average earnings over the last 26 weeks (I think**). I didn't have to pay extra taxes the year I was on mat leave (Mar-Dec 2009) but also got a tiny return (under $100). I'm currently on EI medical leave and they are literally taking $3/week off me in taxes so I HOPE I overpay the rest of the year...

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2012, 18:50 PM	#8
AlwaysPraying Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 4,147	My return was under $100 as well. I was on mat leave from sept - sept and worked part time sept - dec.

Status: Offline

May 2nd, 2012, 20:54 PM	#10
KatVM Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 707	Thank you ladies for all your responses, unfortunately I can not collect at all due to having to quit because of pregnancy problems.

Status: Offline

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