NOTICE: As of June 2, ASEBP will be closing the third-floor reception area to the public permanently. This means ASEBP will no longer be accepting walk-ins or in-person appointments. Covered members will still be able to meet with ASEBP virtually or over the phone through the online booking process. To book a meeting, please visit the Contact Us page.

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Maternity and Paternity

According to Canadian law, maternity leaves are broken into two parts: health-related leave and parental leave.

Continuing your Benefits

While you’re on leave, you have the option to continue receiving benefit coverage, as you did when you were working. If you choose not to continue your benefits while on leave, they will be reinstated on your first day back at work. Note that a gap in coverage beyond what is allowed according to the Alberta Labour Standards may cause future claims to be denied if you get sick or are injured during the first 26 weeks after you return to work.

If you have Spending Account coverage, your available credits may change while you’re on leave. See Spending Accounts While on Leave for details.

For Maternity Leave

Your benefits may continue for either your entire health-related leave or just a portion of it, depending on the arrangement with your employer. If you want to receive benefits throughout your health-related leave as well as the parental portion of your leave, you can apply to continue all or some of your benefits, and they will begin the first day after your employer stops paying your premiums. Check with your employer to see who will be responsible for paying your benefit premiums during your leave.

For Parental Leave

If you’re only taking the parental portion of the leave (e.g. in cases of adoption, or both partners sharing leave, etc.), you can still apply to continue some or all of your benefits during your parental leave (which is officially considered a personal leave of absence by ASEBP). Check with your employer to see who will be responsible for paying your benefit premiums during this time.

See Managing your Benefits During a Personal or Maternity Leave for details.

Income Replacement

Partial income replacement while you’re on maternity leave is covered through Employment Insurance (EI) provided you were paying into EI through your employer while you were working. As EI is a government program, you should contact Service Canada to ensure you’re set up to receive income replacement once your leave starts. You’re eligible to receive EI for both the health-related and parental portions of your leave.

Pregnancy Complications

Your employer will let ASEBP know when you start your maternity leave. If you start your leave more than 45 days before your anticipated delivery date, ASEBP will follow up with you by email to offer additional support. If you need more information or are interested in the support available to you, return the contact request form included with this email and an ASEBP team member will guide you through the Extended Disability Benefits (EDB) application process.

If you are approved for EDB, you qualify for income replacement at the level stated on your plan. You can find which plan you are enrolled in by checking My ASEBP or the mobile app.

If you have questions about your maternity leave or disability supports available to you, get in touch with a benefit specialist.

Support for You

Through your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), a number of resources are available for new parents, including help with postpartum depression, support for new dads, and assistance transitioning back to work. The EFAP is a proactive health program that offers completely confidential physical and mental well-being support services to you and your family. These supports are available in person, online and over the phone, 24/7/365.