How much money is there in maternity leave?

During the periods of protection before and after childbirth (maternity leave), you receive full net wage compensation, which is paid by the health insurance fund and the employer.

How is the maternity leave payment calculated?

First, the pre-maternity leave comparison period must be determined (usually the last three settled calendar months before the start of maternity leave). The net income of this period is added up and the sum divided by 90 days to obtain an average net income that is paid to you tax-free during the protection period.

How much maternity leave payment do I get from my employer?

First, the calendar-day net pay from the prematernity protection comparison period must be determined. The employer pays the amount exceeding 13€ per day with the current pay check. Mothers receive the 13€ themselves from the health insurance fund.

How long is maternity leave payment paid by the employer?

The employer generally pays the maternity leave contribution until the end of the maternity leave. You can determine the duration quickly and easily with our Maternity Leave Calculator determine. If the employment relationship ends during the maternity leave period, the employer will only pay the contribution for that period.

Maternity leave payment calculator

With our maternity leave payment calculator you can quickly and easily calculate your entitlement

Maternity leave payment is the net wage replacement that mothers receive during the protection periods before and after the birth. For salaried employees, it consists of the current maternity leave payment from the health insurance fund (max. €13 per day) and the maternity leave contribution from the employer. In our maternity leave payment calculator, you can quickly and easily calculate the maternity leave contribution from your employer.

When does your maternity leave start?

The amount of maternity leave payment is determined on the basis of the last three calendar months prior to the start of the protection period*:

The legal net according to pay checks

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Calculate maternity leave payment

Explanation

*If you have not been employed continuously for the three months, you will be fictitiously placed in the position as if you had received regular employment pay for all three months.

Tip:

Since the contribution from the employer is calculated on the basis of your net earnings, it is worthwhile for you to change to a tax class that is more favorable for you, because the contribution from the employer will be higher as a result.

Notice:

Although maternity leave payment is tax-free, it is subject to the so-called progression proviso in income tax in the same way as parental allowance.

This is how our maternity leave payment calculator works

Maternity leave replaces an average pre-maternity net pay. In the first step, therefore, you enter the start of maternity leave into the calculator.

Based on this, the three-month period before the start of maternity leave is automatically determined. The net remuneration for the respective months is to be entered there.

By clicking on “Calculate maternity leave now”, the maternity leave contribution from the employer is determined by first calculating the sum of the net pay entered, which is then divided by a flat rate of 90 working days to obtain an average calendar net pay.

The €13 health insurance contribution is deducted from this amount, leaving the employer’s contribution, which the employer pays to the mother for each day of maternity leave. As a rule, payment is made in the same way as for current pay.

Good to know:

The employer is not left to bear the costs, but is reimbursed in full by the health insurance fund via the U2 maternity benefit contribution. The maternity leave payment is thus ultimately borne by the community of insured persons.

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FAQ

How much money is there in maternity leave?: During the periods of protection before and after childbirth (maternity leave), you receive full net wage compensation, which is paid by the health insurance fund and the employer.
How is the maternity leave payment calculated?: First, the pre-maternity leave comparison period must be determined (usually the last three settled calendar months before the start of maternity leave). The net income of this period is added up and the sum divided by 90 days to obtain an average net income that is paid to you tax-free during the protection period.
How much maternity leave payment do I get from my employer?: First, the calendar-day net pay from the prematernity protection comparison period must be determined. The employer pays the amount exceeding 13€ per day with the current pay check. Mothers receive the 13€ themselves from the health insurance fund.
How long is maternity leave payment paid by the employer?: The employer generally pays the maternity leave contribution until the end of the maternity leave. You can determine the duration quickly and easily with our Maternity Leave Calculator determine. If the employment relationship ends during the maternity leave period, the employer will only pay the contribution for that period.

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