Parents of twins snag double EI benefits
An Ottawa couple has set a precedent that could extend benefits for parents of multiple-birth children, doubling their entitlement to Employment Insurance leave to care for their twin girls.
Last week, EI’s Board decided to allow Christian Martin to claim 35 weeks of parental benefits for one newborn daughter after his spouse had already made a successful claim for 35 weeks for the other child.Both parents work for the federal government. When they learned they were having two babies, they both applied for EI benefits, but Martin was turned down.
Currently, parents with sufficient qualifying hours and up to date EI premiums are allowed to claim 35 weeks of parental leave, in addition to the 15 weeks available to biological mothers.
Either parent can take the time or they can share it. But the law stipulates 35 weeks for a single pregnancy or adoption, not a single birth.
Until now.
What about quads, you ask? Not likely, according to the family’s lawyer, who suggests that the ruling would effectively extend benefits to each qualified parent but not for each child in multiple births — parents of triplets could not claim a total of 105 weeks of parental leave, for example.
The government can either challenge the decision or amend the EI rules to provide increased benefits automatically for parents of twins, triplets or more.
Tell us: What’s your experience with such parental benefits? Is this good social policy?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: DSB | Sep 23, 2021 12:06:58 AM
Are we all born angry? I am thankful to live in a country with such greatness. I know there are deficencies, missjudgments, and down right failiers in this system. Let us applaud the good and change what is unjust. There is a large chance this couple will not choose to have more children as do many with multiples first so therefore not take parental leave again. I was unaware of (and displeased with) the top up but perhaps that is an issue to be addressed seperatly. This couple could be thanked for their trailblazing. I believe they should qualify for the extra 35 wks as it is exta time and work ajusting. A greater issue for EI to address would be when people like the farmers who also pay into the system (working a second job just to survive) can never collect EI not even one cent because they are business owners. How fair is it that they are forced to pay with no chance of collecting?
Posted by: blank | Sep 23, 2021 11:30:24 AM
they should both lose their jobs and have to repay the entire monies they rcvd.
shameful!
Posted by: debbie | Sep 25, 2021 6:45:47 PM
I agree with Rob, I myself have collected mat leave once 3 months in 86, out of four pregnancies the last being twins in 93. I don't believe that they need that long 35 + 15. I had three children before the twins and went back to work in six months, all with babysitting fees,insurance, gas, food shelter and wharever else they needed.My husband was in school, because of a work related issue, and money was tight. If you ask me, do away with this EI, and put the money where it belongs (in our pocket)
Posted by: Nadine | Oct 5, 2021 11:15:40 PM
I read the article, but none of the comments. All I can say is that there is no love loss between myself and EI. In 1999, I was denied maternity leave because I was one hour short...the equivalent of not taking two lunch breaks...worked up until the day before my son was born. I applaud the couple - take as much time as you can!!