Do you receive employment insurance,while staying at home?

[Dadaland]

In Canada a working parent who decides to stay home, for the purpose of caring for an infant in their first year. Is entitle to parental benifits up to 35 weeks for either parent,not both.

In my case I receive $710.00 cdn every 2 weeks. Its considerably less than half of my regular wages. But I'm glad to receive this, things would be a tough go with out it.

My wife is self employed and there for is not entitle. I'm staying home leaving a $70,000 job so that my wife can go to work and make $35,000.

Does'nt seem to make that much sense . But if my wife were to remain home then she would loose all her clients, she has worked hard for 4 years, plus two years at a private school.

We want to have a family but not give up either of our carrers.So far so good, hopefully they don't black ball me when I go back after labour day.

Even in a very liberal country like Canada
it is taboo for the father to stay home. I'm suppose to have 35 weeks of job protection,but Ill be honest I'm keeping my fingers crossed untill I get back.

I was wondering if the States have the same thing?

[tt3]

In short answer, no.
I was lucky, I got laid off a month before my daughter was born, so I could claim unemployment benifits for six months... Legitimately so, as I was truly searching for more employment ;) and then our president signed a 13week extension to that, so that first year was pretty decent.
If we choose to stay home, as far as I understand it, its "tough luck, pal, you're on your own" just as it is for mothers.
There are progams here in Minnesota for parents to keep their kids covered with health insurance at little to no out of pocket $$ too.

[Don-Dad]

Wow, maybe I should have moved to Canada.

AS far as I know the US does not provide any incentives for stay at home parents. Though those who send their kids to daycare can get a tax write off.

[mjknapp]

Well there kindof is, they call it wellfare. j/k It is not really geared toward the stay at home parent. but there is people out there that really need it and such a program might do good for parents and children alike.

[dad of 2]

Here in california we are the first state to mandate family leave for all workers (including fathers). Beging July 1. Of course I have my two already and dont plan on any more but this seems to me to be a good thing. I dont know any details on this, it might just be we wont fire you if you want some time off after the birth of your child. Read an article last night in buisness week.