Special Maternity Benefit for Spouse of Disabled Mother


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Following an amendment to the law, the term "maternity leave" has been changed to "birth and parenthood period".

The spouse of a disabled mother, who has been granted 100% earning incapacity and is unable to care for her child, may be entitled to a special benefit from the National Insurance Institute, if he or she stops working to care for the child.

The special benefit will not be paid for the period she receives maternity allowance or paternity allowances are paid to her spouse.

A benefit is paid to the spouse if the following conditions are met:

  • The mother is entitled to a birth grant;
  • A 100% degree of earning incapacity has been determined for the mother;
  • Because of her disability, the mother is unable to care for her baby. A written doctor's opinion to this effect must be presented;
  • The spouse is an employee or self-employed, and stopped working to care for the newborn baby;
  • Insurance contributions were paid by the spouse or by his or her employer for 10 of the last 14 months, or 15 of the last 22 months, before the day she stopped working to care for her newborn baby.

Benefit rates

The benefit rate is calculated according to the spouse's income in the three months, or in the six months, preceding the first day of the month he or she stopped working, depending on which is higher. Daily rates for this benefit and paternity allowance are identical.

Benefit for a salaried employee

For a salaried employee, a daily benefit is calculated based on his total income in the three months preceding the first day of the month he stopped working, divided by 90, or in the six months preceding this day, divided by 180, depending on which is higher, but no more than the maximum paternity allowance per day.

If a salaried employee did not receive full pay in reference months preceding the first day of the month he stopped working, the National Insurance Institute will consider providing a salary supplement for these months or calculating the benefit on the basis of the months prior to salary reduction, subject to proper documentation.

Benefit for a self-employed spouse

For a self-employed, a daily benefit is calculated based on his income as self-employed in the three months preceding the first day of the month in which he or she stopped working, divided by 90, but no more than the maximum paternity allowance per day.

At first the benefit is calculated based on advance payments, then, upon receiving final assessments indicating a change in income, it will be recalculated based on the rate of the assessments.

In light of an amendment to the law, the benefit of a self-employed spouse whose determining date is from 27.4.2016 and onward, will be calculated as follows:

The benefit will first be paid based on advance payments. In the next stage, upon receiving an assessment, the benefit will be recalculated based upon the current assessment or that of the previous year - whichever is higher.

The law will come into effect in 2017 when the assessments for 2016 become available.

Period of benefit

The benefit will be paid for 14 weeks.

In the event of a multiple birth or the hospitalization of the baby, the spouse might be eligible for an extension of paternity leave and an additional payment.

Submitting a claim for benefit

In order to receive the special benefit, the spouse must fill in the claim form for the special benefit for a spouse of a disabled mother, and attach a doctor's confirmation that the mother is unable to care for the newborn child.

The form must be submitted to the local National Insurance Institute branch by mail, fax or service box within 12 months of the day of the birth.

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