Payment of maternity allowance to women who will give birth between 1.7.2021 and 31.12.21
The National Insurance will pay maternity allowance to jobless women who did not return to work yet, and are expecting birth in the course of 2021.
Conditions of entitlement
To receive maternity allowance, you have to meet 2 conditions below:
- Date of childbirth - you have given birth between 1.7.21 and 31.12.21
- You have received unemployment benefits before 30.6.21 during your pregnancy
How long unemployment benefits may be received?
Your period of entitlement to unemployment benefits is determined by the qualifying period you have accumulated before the day you stopped receiving unemployment benefits (and not before the day of work stoppage).
Please note that the months in which you have received unemployment benefits are included in the qualifying period.
The number of eligibility days for maternity allowance are determined as follows:
- To maximum maternity allowance for 15 weeks (105 eligibility days) - you will be entitled if you have accumulated either 10 months over the 14 months, or 15 months over the 22 months, preceding the day you stopped receiving unemployment benefits.
- To partial maternity allowance for 8 weeks (56 eligibility days) - you will be entitled if you have accumulated 6 months over the 14 months preceding the day you stopped receiving unemployment benefits.
Maternity allowance amount
The amount of maternity allowance is calculated according to your work income prior the date of work stoppage. For more information about the calculation of maternity allowance, click here.
Grant amounting to 18 additional days of eligibility for maternity allowance
A woman eligible for maternity allowance under Covid crisis regulations - will also receive a grant amounting to 18 additional days of eligibility for maternity allowance.
The grant will be paid automatically upon maternity allowance approval on your bank account, there is no need to submit a claim:
- For a woman who gave birth in the months of July and August 2021 - the grant will be paid by the end of August.
- For a woman who gave birth between September and December 2021 - the grant will be paid up to two weeks since the day of birth.
Submitting a maternity allowance claim during the pregnancy
A woman who wishes to submit a claim for maternity allowance during her pregnancy, can submit a claim with the estimated date of birth, but not earlier than 9 weeks prior to the estimated date of birth.
The claim must be completed by hand only, together with a medical certificate, and sent to the Maternity Allowance Department of the branch nearest your place of residence.
There is no need to complete the salary certificate section (page 3 of claim form) or to attach pay slips.
The claim and documents can be sent to the branch through the documents sending website.
Payment of maternity allowance for women who gave birth until 30.6.21
A woman who stopped working before expecting will receive maternity allowance
A woman who gave birth during the period between 1.8.20 and 30.6.21, and was entitled to unemployment benefits until the day of childbirth - will be eligible for maternity allowance.
Special payment for new mother during unemployment, who is not eligible for maternity allowance
A woman who gave birth in the period from 1.3.20 to 30.6.21, and received unemployment benefits before the birth, and who is not eligible for maternity allowance since she did not accrue the require qualifying period or is entitled to partial maternity allowance - will receive a special payment as follows:
- Those who did not accrue any qualifying period - will receive a special payment for 15 weeks following childbirth.
- Those who accrue a partial qualifying period - will receive maternity allowance for 8 weeks and a special payment for 7 weeks following childbirth.
The special payment amount will equal that of the unemployment benefits due to her if she was not a new mother.
Change in calculation of maternity / pregnancy bed rest allowance for a self-employed woman
A self-employed woman who gave birth in the period from 1.1.21 and 31.12.21 - will see her maternity allowance calculated based on her income as per her 2019 tax return, or 2020 tax return or 2021 advance payments - whichever is higher.
We wish all new mothers a successful birth and parenthood period of leave and a fast return to normalcy.