Parental Leave Program

The Doctors of BC Parental Leave Program pays a benefit for up to 17 weeks. If you and your partner are physicians, both of you can apply but each physician has a separate claim. Leave(s) can start up to 12 weeks before the expected birth or placement date of your child and must begin no later than 17 weeks after the birth or placement date.

Who is eligible for the program?

The Parental Leave Program (PLP) covers leaves taken as a result of:

• Pregnancy of an eligible physician or the physician’s spouse.
• An adoption of a child.
• A surrogacy arrangement.

You must have been paid via fee-for-service, rural locum, or LFP model through MSP and/or through a non-salaried service contract or sessional agreement in:

• the prior calendar year to the commencement of the leave; or
• in the 12 months prior to your claim start date.

You are not eligible if you:

• Are a salaried physician (benefit should be received directly from your employer as per the Provincial Salary Agreement).
• Are receiving a parental benefit from another program.

The benefit is calculated on the greater of 55% of your:

• eligible income in the 12 months prior to your child's birth date; or
• eligible income in the 12 months prior to your leave start date.

Gross eligible income of $122,909 is needed for the maximum entitlement of $1,300/week for up to 17 weeks. Income below this will result in a pro-rated benefit amount.

Benefits must be greater than $25 per week to be payable.

Eligible income does not include: ICBC/WCB services, On-call, Rural Retention flat payments, MOCAP, Salary, Expense Reimbursements, Teaching, Administrative, certain Stipends, Resident/Fellow Salaries, Private/Non-insured services, and Federally Funded services.

Benefit Payment

Before a benefit payment is made, you need to make an online declaration stating the number of hours of eligible income you worked in the week:

• 0-2 hours = Full–you will be paid 100% of the benefit for weeks in which you bill under two hours of eligible income.
• More than two but less than 15 hours = Partial—You will be paid 50% of the benefit for any week(s) in which you bill fewer than 15 hours.
• >15 Hours = Not Eligible–You will not be paid the benefit for any week(s) in which you bill 15 hours or more.

Benefits are payable bi-weekly via direct deposit.

A declaration must be made online in the member area. Once the claim has been setup and setup email has been sent to you.

You have 52 weeks from the start date of your leave to claim as many of the 17 eligible weeks as possible. Weeks do not have to be consecutive.

A T4A will be issued for the PLP benefit. This amount must be included in your personal income. A T4A will not be issued for PLP benefits paid to a corporation.

• You are eligible for a membership dues reduction if your parental leave will be greater than three months (please indicate on the application form).
• The dues are reduced at different rates depending on your total months of leave (3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months).
• Please wait to pay your dues until you are notified that the reduction has been processed.
• You will receive a pro-rated refund if dues have already been paid.
• If your leave overlaps two fiscal years, we will make the reduction to the following year’s dues.

For applications and more information:

• Please read the plan outline and complete the application form.
• The deadline to apply is no later than 12 weeks after the child’s birth or placement date however, applying prior to the birth or placement date will ensure an administrator can track your application and send appropriate reminders.

Important deadlines:

• To receive the PLP benefit, you must apply no later than 12 weeks after the child's date of birth or placement.
• Claims/Declarations must be completed no later than 52 weeks following the start date of your leave.