Benefits, services and next steps
Having a Baby or Adopting
Use the regional navigator to explore money for parental leave, child benefits, health and public-health services, registration steps, and community programs when your family grows through birth or adoption.
Select where you live to see regional programs alongside federal benefits.
How parental benefits stack in Canada
Federal Employment Insurance (EI) maternity and parental leave can run alongside ongoing tax-free payments like the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). Adoption parents may qualify for the same parental leave lengths as birth parents and may claim a separate federal adoption expense tax credit.
Parental leave
EI maternity (up to 15 weeks) and parental leave (standard or extended sharing) may be available for eligible workers outside Quebec.
Child benefits
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment assessed from your tax return after birth or adoption placement.
Tax credits
Eligible adoption expenses may be claimed as a non-refundable federal tax credit in the year the adoption is finalized.
Health & family support
Employer top-ups, workplace health benefits, and federal program guides on canada.ca may supplement leave income.
Money while you're off work
Parental leave income replacement through Employment Insurance, QPIP in Quebec, and any employer top-ups.
- Federal (EI)Birth and adoption
EI maternity and parental benefits
Income support for parents taking time away from work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.
- Standard parental: up to 40 weeks shared at 55% of insurable earnings
- Extended parental: up to 69 weeks shared at 33% of insurable earnings
- One Service Canada application covers maternity and parental leave
Benefits after your child arrives
Tax-free monthly child benefits from the federal government, often with provincial or territorial top-ups paid together.
- Federal (CRA)Monthly payment
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
A tax-free monthly payment to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18.
- Indexed maximum amounts vary by child age and family income
- Based on your adjusted family net income from your tax return
- Provincial and territorial child benefits are often paid with CCB
Before baby arrives
Prenatal health, nutrition, and community programs that may help during pregnancy.
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
Community-based prenatal nutrition and support may be available for eligible pregnant people in participating communities.
Before baby arrives · Income-tested
Register your baby
Practical paperwork after birth or adoption placement, registration, identification, health coverage, and benefit applications.
Register the birth
Birth registration is required through your province or territory, often within days or weeks of birth.
Order a birth certificate
You may need a birth certificate for travel, passports, or some benefit applications.
Get a Social Insurance Number
A SIN for your child may be needed for registered savings plans and some government programs.
Add provincial or territorial health coverage
Check how to enrol your newborn or newly placed child in your province or territory's health plan.
Apply for child benefits
Some jurisdictions let you start Canada Child Benefit and provincial payments during newborn registration.
Parenting and community support
Locally delivered programs for parenting groups, nutrition, breastfeeding, and early childhood activities, availability varies by community.
Community Action for Prenatal and Child Health
As of 2026, federally funded community programs may offer prenatal groups, parenting support, nutrition, and home visiting, delivered locally outside Quebec's transition arrangement.
Parenting & community · Local programs may vary
Nobody's Perfect parenting support
Facilitated parenting groups and referrals may be available in participating communities for parents of young children.
Parenting & community · Eligible families
Other community supports
Programs for specific communities. These are not universal, check whether they apply to your situation.
Healthy Early Years (official-language communities)
Early-years programming may support families in official-language minority communities, not a universal program.
Parenting & community · Official-language minority communities
Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities
Indigenous-led early childhood programs may be available in participating urban and northern communities.
Parenting & community · Indigenous families
Adoption supports
Tax credits, subsidies, and provincial adoption services that may help with adoption costs and placement.
Adoption expense tax credit
A non-refundable federal credit for eligible expenses directly related to adopting a child under 18.
- Indexed maximum eligible expenses (confirm current year on canada.ca)
- May cover licensed agency fees, legal costs, and required travel
- Claim in the tax year the adoption is finalized under provincial rules
Child care and returning to work
Fee supports and next steps when planning a return to work. Provincial rules and licensed child care options vary.
Canada-wide child care fee supports
Federal and provincial/territorial fee-reduction programs may lower regulated child care costs, rules vary where you live.
Child care · Province-wide
Workplace & employer benefits
Employer salary top-ups and extended health coverage during leave vary by workplace. Check HR or your collective agreement.
- WorkplaceVaries by employer
Employer top-ups and health leaves
Supplemental salary payments some employers offer during maternity, parental, or adoption leave.
- Properly structured top-ups may not reduce federal EI benefits
- Check collective agreements or HR benefits packages
- Some employers continue health and dental coverage during leave
Not sure which benefits you qualify for?
Take our benefits quiz for a personalized shortlist based on your province, income, and family situation.
New baby and adoption supports span leave, benefits, registration, and childcare. Canada benefits finder for programs beyond this guide.