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Maternity benefits
During the maternity protection periods, (expectant) mothers are under special legal protection. Before and after the birth, they are not allowed to work for a certain period of time. The Maternity Protection Act ensures that mothers do not suffer any financial disadvantage during this time. Employees receive up to 100 percent of their previous net income, consisting of maternity pay and an employer allowance.
Please use the form you receive from your health insurance company for the application. In addition, you need a medical certificate of the calculated date of birth. You will receive this from your doctor or midwife at the earliest 7 weeks before the date. It is best to make the application as soon as you have this certificate.
If you are insured as a member of the statutory health insurance, please contact your health insurance fund. If you have private health insurance or family insurance in the statutory health insurance, contact the Maternity Benefit Office of the Federal Social Security Office.
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Simply explained
Simply explained
During the maternity protection periods - i.e. 6 weeks before the birth and at least 8 weeks after the birth - working mothers receive maternity benefits. The maternity benefit secures your income and is a replacement for lost wages during the maternity protection periods.
Where you have to apply for maternity benefits depends on the type of health insurance you have. If you are compulsorily insured by law, contact your health insurance company. If you are privately insured or have family insurance, the maternity benefit office of the Federal Insurance Office is responsible.
The amount of your maternity benefit is based on your average net pay over the last 3 months. The average is calculated from the last 3 settled calendar months before the start of your maternity protection periods.
The maternity benefit is a maximum of 13 euros per day. If your net wage during this period was higher than 13 euros per day, then your employer will pay the difference as a maternity benefit supplement.
Maternity allowance from the Federal Social Security Office is limited to a maximum of 210 euros. It is paid out in one sum. If your net wage during this period was higher than 13 euros per day, then your employer will pay the difference as a maternity benefit supplement.
This is still important
This is still important
Antitlement to maternity benefits and, if applicable, allowance from the employer have pregnant women in the last 6 weeks before the birth and then in the first 8 weeks thereafter. In the case of premature and multiple births, the period of entitlement increases to 12 weeks after the birth.
If you are employed, it is decisive for the receipt of maternity benefit whether you have statutory or private health insurance.
Maternity allowance from the statutory health insurance you receive if
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You are expecting a baby and are in an employment relationship in which you do not receive pay because of the maternity protection periods and
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You are a member of a statutory health insurance.
You will receive maternity pay from the Federal Social Security Office if
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You are expecting a baby and are in an employment relationship in which you do not receive pay because of the maternity protection periods and you
either
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are covered by private health insurance at the beginning of the 6-week protection period
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or
are insured with a statutory health insurance family (eg through your husband).
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If you are self-employed and have taken out a private daily sickness allowance insurance and during the maternity leave periods are not or only limited professional activity, you have a claim to payment of the agreed daily sickness allowance during this time. The contractually agreed waiting and waiting periods must be taken into account. It is best to contact your private health insurance company directly to clarify the details.
If you are insured voluntarily as a self-employed person with a statutory health insurance fund with entitlement to sickness benefit, you will receive maternity benefit in the amount of the sickness benefit from the health insurance fund during the maternity protection periods.
If you work as a civil servant and do not have any secondary employment, the Maternity Protection Act does not apply to you. During the protection period, you will continue to receive your remuneration through your employer.
I need that
I need that
Which documents do I need for the application?
For the application for maternity benefits, you need a medical certificate of the calculated date of birth. This you get from your doctor or midwife no earlier than 7 weeks before the date. It is best to make the application as soon as you have this certificate.
For the online application at the Federal Social Security Office, you should have the following information ready:
When should I make the application for maternity benefit?
Apply for maternity benefit before the start of your protection period, if possible.
That's how long it takes
Processing by your statutory health insurance fund normally takes around 3 to 6 working days, depending on receipt of the certificate of earnings. In order to process and decide quickly, your health insurance fund must have the necessary information and any required documents in a complete and meaningful form. The health insurance company decides on applications promptly, whereby the statutory processing period is adhered to in order to protect patients' rights. Please note that the processing time stated is an average value for all health insurance companies. It may vary in individual cases. The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and may be longer. The same applies if documents or records are sent to you or your health insurance fund by post.
It usually takes 2 to 6 weeks to process your application with BAS.
