In Canada, there has been updates for CRA Parental Benefit 2025. The CRA does not offer direct parental benefit but under Employment Insurance this benefit is being offered. The Employment Insurance Parental Benefit program in Canada provides monetary assistance to parents who are away from their employment to take care of their newborn or newly adopted offspring. In 2025, this program continues to offer two options: standard and extended parental benefits, each with different durations and benefit rates. This guide provides an overview related to EI Parental benefit including eligibility, benefit amounts, duration and more.
CRA Parental Benefit 2025
The CRA Parental Benefit 2025 is designed to support the parents during the critical period of caring for a new child. Qualified parents can choose between Standard Parental benefit which provides up to 40 weeks of benefits with one parent able to get up to 35 weeks and Extended Parental benefit which provides up to 69 weeks of benefits with one parent able to get up to 61 weeks. The choice between the standard and extended parental benefit determines the duration and the weekly benefit amount. Once a choice is made by the parents and payments are offset, the benefit can’t be changed.
CRA EI Parental Benefits 2025 – Highlights
| Post Title | CRA Parental Benefit 2025 |
| Country Name | Canada |
| Year | 2025 |
| Program Details | Employment Insurance Parental Benefit |
| Issuing Agency | CRA / Service Canada |
| Employment Insurance Parental Benefit Eligibility Check 2025 | Qualified Canadian Parents who are working in insurable employment |
| Purpose | Monetary Support to help Parents who has newly born children to take care off |
| CRA EI Parental Benefit Amount 2025 | $695 Per Week under Standard Parental and $417 Per Week under Extended Parental |
| Frequency of the Benefit | Every Two Weeks |
| Taxability Status | Taxable income |
| EI Parental Benefit Duration & Payment Details 2025 | See this Guide |
| Category of the Post | Finance |
| Official Portal | www.canada.ca |
Employment Insurance Parental Benefit Eligibility Check 2025
To qualify for EI Parental Benefits 2025:
- Insurable Employment: The employee must accumulate 600 hours of insurable employment in the fifty two weeks prior to the claim or since their last claim.
- Reduction in Earnings: The normal weekly earnings must have decreased by more than 40% due to the need to care for your child.
- Parental Responsibility: The employee must be a parent who takes care of a newborn or newly adopted offspring.
- Benefit Sharing: If both parents are sharing benefits and each must apply separately and both must choose the same benefit option (Standard or extended).
- Additional Family Supplement: The additional family supplement may be available if the net family income is under $25,921. Additionally, the employee must have one child under 18 and must have a spouse who gets CCB.
CRA EI Parental Benefit Amount 2025
| Benefit Type | Benefit Rate | Maximum Duration | Weekly Maximum (2025) |
| Standard Parental | 55% | Up to 40 Weeks | $695 |
| Extended Parental | 33% | Up to 69 Weeks | $417 |
Note: When Sharing benefits, one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks under Standard Parental benefit or 61 weeks under Extended Parental.
EI Parental Benefit Duration & Payment Details 2025
- Standard Parental Benefits: 40 weeks can be shared between parents, with one parent qualified for 35 weeks.
- Extended Parental Benefits: 69 weeks can be shared, with no parental eligible for 61 weeks.
- Benefits must be claimed within:
- Standard Parental Benefits: 52 weeks (12 months) from the offspring’s birth or adoption.
- Extended Parental Benefits: 78 weeks (18 months) from the offspring’s birth or adoption.
FAQ Related To CRA Parental Benefit 2025
No, once the applicant starts to get payment for one type of benefit, the applicant can’t switch to the other.
Yes, There is typically a 1 week waiting period. However, for claims between March 30th, 2025 and October 11th, 2025, this waiting period is waived.
If someone’s family net earnings is under $25,921 and if they have a child and whose spouse gets CCB from CRA, then additional payment is made to them which raises the Parental benefit amount.
The EI Parental Benefit is issued via direct deposit every two weeks. The exact dates depend on the claim start date which means it’s different for everyone.
Yes. Parents can get payments simultaneously or consecutively as long as combined weeks do not exceed the maximum allowed.
The residents can verify the CRA Parental Benefit 2025 through Canada.ca portal or CRA Portal. Also CRA representatives can be contacted directly by the residents through their helpline.
