Financial assistance — before birth

Québec Parental Insurance Plan

Services Québec

The Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) pays benefits to all eligible wage earners and self‑employed workers who take maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave. Since this is an income replacement plan, you must have work income in order to be eligible.

QPIP benefits equal up to 75% of your average weekly earnings calculated on the basis of your maximum insurable earnings, which cannot exceed the maximum insurable earnings in effect on the date when benefits begin. If your average weekly earnings (AWE) are less than the equivalent of a 40-hour work week at the general minimum wage, you may be eligible to receive increased benefits of up to 85% or 100% of your AWE, according to the plan you choose.

To find out the maximum insurable earnings currently considered in calculating benefits or to learn more about the QPIP, visit the QPIP website at www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en.

Eligibility conditions

To be eligible for the QPIP, you must:

• be a resident of Québec on the start date of the benefit period
• have paid or be required to pay premiums under the QPIP during the qualifying period, that is, the period during which your insurable earnings are considered in calculating your benefits
• have minimum insurable earnings of $2,000 during the qualifying period

If you are a wage earner, you must also:

• have stopped working or seen a reduction of at least 40% in your usual weekly employment income (wages)

If you are a self-employed worker, you must also:

• have resided in Québec on December 31 of the year preceding the beginning of the benefit period
• have ceased your business activities or reduced the time spent on them by at least 40%

If you are a wage earner as well as a self-employed worker, you must also:

• have resided in Québec on December 31 of the year preceding the beginning of the benefit period
• have ceased your business activities or reduced the time spent on them by at least 40% and have stopped working or seen a reduction of at least 40% in your usual weekly earnings

Types of benefits

A number of types of benefits are available under the QPIP.

Pregnancy or delivery:

• Maternity benefits for the mother only, in connection with a pregnancy or the delivery of a child

Birth:

• Paternity benefits for the father only or for the female spouse of the mother who gave birth, if she is acknowledged on the act of birth
• Shareable parental benefits which can be received by either parent or shared between them, simultaneously or successively. If the parents share a sufficient number of shareable parental benefit weeks, they may be eligible for additional shareable benefit weeks
• Exclusive parental benefits for each parent for the birth of more than one child as a result of a single pregnancy
• Exclusive parental benefits for the lone parent mentioned on the act of birth

Adoption:

• Shareable welcome and support benefits, relative to an adoption, which can be received by either parent or shared between them, simultaneously or successively. If the parents share a sufficient number of shareable parental benefit weeks, they may be eligible for additional shareable benefit weeks
• Shareable adoption benefits which can be received by either parent or shared between them, simultaneously or successively. If the parents share a sufficient number of shareable parental benefit weeks, they may be eligible for additional shareable benefit weeks
• Exclusive adoption benefits for each parent
• Exclusive adoption benefits for the adoption of more than one child at the same time
• Exclusive adoption benefits for the adoptive parent who welcomes a child for the purpose of adoption and who will be the lone parent on the child’s certificate of birth or its equivalent

For the number of weeks applicable by type of benefit, consult the Table of Benefits page of the website www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en.

The payment of maternity benefits may begin 16 weeks preceding the expected date of delivery. It ends not later than 20 weeks after the date of delivery.

Payment of paternity, parental, or adoption-related welcome and support benefits may begin the week of delivery or of the arrival of the child into the care of one of the parents for the purpose of the adoption. It ends not later than 78 weeks (18 months) after the date of delivery or the arrival of the child into the care of one of the parents for the purpose of the adoption..

In the case of an adoption outside Québec, the benefit period may begin 5 weeks before the week of the child’s arrival into the care of one of the parents for the purpose of the adoption.

You have to choose between two plans:

• the basic plan, which pays lower benefits over a longer period of leave
• the special plan, which pays higher benefits over a shorter period

The plan is determined by the parent whose application for benefits is received first. For more information on the terms and conditions applicable to the choice of plan or to learn more about the QPIP, visit the QPIP website at www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en.

How to apply

You have the option of completing an application for benefits on the QPIP website at www.rqap.gouv.qc.ca/en, or with the help of a QPIP customer service agent by calling 1-888-610-7727.

For more information, visit the QPIP website or call the customer service number.

Special pregnancy benefit

Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

If you are pregnant and receive benefits under the Social Assistance Program or Social Solidarity Program or Aim for Employment Program, you are eligible for a special pregnancy benefit of $55 per month in addition to your monthly financial assistance.

This special benefit, which is paid each month until you give birth, is designed to help you buy healthy food during your pregnancy.

To receive the special pregnancy benefit, you must, as soon as possible, provide to a Services Québec office with a written attestation signed by a physician, a midwife, or a specialized nurse practitioner, certifying that you are pregnant and indicating

• the recipient’s name and date of birth
• the number of weeks of pregnancy
• the expected date of delivery

You are also eligible for this special benefit if you have a dependent child who is pregnant and you receive benefits under the Social Assistance or Social Solidarity programs or Aim for Employment Program.

Tax credit for the treatment of infertility

Revenu Québec

Under certain conditions, you may be able to apply for the refundable tax credit for the treatment of infertility if you incurred expenses for in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination treatments. This tax credit is equal to a percentage of eligible expenses paid by you or your spouse during the year. The percentage varies according to family income. Eligible expenses are limited to $20,000 per year.

To claim this tax credit, you must enclose the duly completed Tax Credit for the Treatment of Infertility form (TP-1029.8.66.2-V) with your Québec income tax return.

You may also receive advance payment of the tax credit for treatment of infertility if you meet certain conditions.

To apply for advance payment of your tax credit, you must send the duly completed Tax Credit for the Treatment of Infertility: Application for an Advance Payment form (TP-1029.8.66.2A-V) to Revenu Québec, along with the required documents.

For more information, contact Revenu Québec.

Online
www.revenuquebec.ca

By telephone
Québec area: 418-659-6299
Montréal area: 514-864-6299
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-267-6299

TTY (Teletypewriter)
Montréal area: 514-873-4455
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-361-3795

Temporary reimbursement program for in vitro fertilization services

Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec

For information on the Temporary reimbursement program for in vitro fertilization services, visit ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/aid-programs/assisted-procreation-reimbursement-vitro-fertilization.

Student financial assistance

Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur

Under the Loans and Bursaries Program, various measures have been put in place to help balance studies and family obligations. For example, as soon as a mother is 20 weeks pregnant, living expenses for a child are recognized when assessing the amount that could be awarded to her.

If you are a part-time student and have parental responsibilities, you could be eligible for the Loans and Bursaries Program, usually reserved for full-time students.

If you interrupt your studies because of a pregnancy or following a birth or an adoption, you may be temporarily exempted from repaying your student loans.

To find out more on the subject, you can contact Aide financière aux études or consult its website.

Online
www.quebec.ca/en/education/student-financial-assistance

By telephone
Québec area: 418-643-3750
Montréal area: 514-864-3557
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-877-643-3750