If you take time off from work for childbirth
“Maternity Allowance” is paid when a female insured person cannot earn a salary due to time taken off from work for childbirth.
Maternity Allowance
Amounts paid
Amount equal to two-thirds of the average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 per day off work
For individuals who have been insured persons for less than 12 months, the lesser of ① or ② below:
- ①Individual's average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent continuous months prior to the month payment of the allowance begins
- ②Association's average standard monthly remuneration for all insured persons as of September 30 of the preceding fiscal year
When a female insured person takes time off from work for childbirth, she is paid two-thirds of her average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 per day off to help cover living costs during that period. This benefit is referred to as “Maternity Allowance”.
The range of acceptable reasons for taking time off work in this case is broader than for the inability to work, as defined for Injury and Sickness Allowance and it is acceptable to take time off even if you feel that you could work if you tried.
Payment period
- 42nd day prior to the date of delivery
(98th day prior to the date of delivery for multiple births) - Date of delivery
- 56th day after birth
- * The date of delivery is included in the period to birth.
- * In cases of multiple births, the dates are the 98th day prior to the date of delivery and the 56th day from the day after the date of delivery
- * If the actual birth occurs after the scheduled delivery date, the number of days between the actual birth and the anticipated birthdate will be added to the period prior to birth.
- * The allowance is paid based on the number of days taken off from work during the above period.
Cases in which you are eligible to receive the Maternity Allowance and Injury and Sickness Allowance concurrently
If you are eligible to receive Maternity Allowance and Injury and Sickness Allowance concurrently, payment of the Maternity Allowance will be granted priority. However, if the Maternity Allowance paid is less than the Injury and Sickness Allowance, the difference between the two amounts will be paid.
You are exempt from paying insurance premiums during maternity leave, childcare leave, or other similar leave
To reduce financial burdens while taking childcare or similar leave (including paternity leave [newborn care leave]), health insurance associations exempt insured persons and their employers from the payment of insurance premiums during the period of such leave in cases where employers have applied for such exemption. This exemption applies from the month in which the leave starts through the month immediately preceding the month that includes the day following the end of the leave.
If the month that includes the day on which childcare or similar leave starts is the same as the month that includes the day following the end of the leave, insurance premiums are waived for the month if the number of days of such leave is 14 days or longer.
Insurance premiums on bonuses are waived only if childcare or similar leave has been taken for a continuous period of longer than one month that includes the last day of the month in which the bonus was paid.
Employers can also apply on behalf of their employees for exemptions from the requirement to pay insurance premiums during the period of maternity leave.
- * Period of childcare or similar leave: the period of childcare leave or similar leave that conforms to the system of childcare leave, up to the child's third birthday at the latest.
- * Period of maternity leave: Period during which you did not work due to pregnancy or childbirth, within the period starting 42 days before birth (98 days for multiple births) and ending 56 days after birth
- * Paternity leave (newborn care leave): A system under which eligible persons may take leave for up to four weeks during the eight-week period after the birth of a child. This leave may be taken separately from childcare leave.
Caution:
The right to claim health insurance benefits expires in two years.