Childbirth benefit is a one-off social benefit to help parents cover the costs of having a baby. This support is not only for married mothers, but also for single parents who meet certain conditions. In this article you will find out who is entitled to the birth grant, how much it is, how and where to apply for it, and what mistakes are most often made when applying.
When new parents have their first child, they soon find that along with the joy comes a number of unexpected expenses: a stroller, a car seat, the first diapers and baby medical examinations. It is these basic initial costs that the childbirth allowance – a one-off social benefit paid by the state to lower-income families– is intended to help with. The purpose is to reduce the risk that the arrival of a child will temporarily put a family in financial distress and to ensure that all children – regardless of the economic background of the parents – are born into “dignified conditions”.
Since 1995, childbirth benefits have been enshrined in the State Social Assistance Act. The amount of the benefit has changed several times since then, but the principle has remained: for the first-born child it is the most generous support, for the second-born child the amount is lower, and for multiples the amount is multiplied.
Have you applied for sickness, maternity, parental allowance or other benefit and instead of the expected support, you received a rejection? Or were you awarded a benefit in a lower amount than is appropriate for your situation?
Any parent (mother or father) whose qualifying net income does not exceed 2.7 times the family’s minimum subsistence level for the last quarter before the birth of the child can apply. In practice, this means that for a three-person household (two adults + newborn), the threshold for 2025 is approximately CZK 35 000 per month. If you are at risk of narrowly exceeding the limit because of a lump sum, it is worth asking your employer for payment after the qualifying period.
Specific situations:
Not at all. The common myth “am I entitled to maternity benefits if I’m not married?” the law answers clearly: marital status does not play a role. Only the amount of income of the persons jointly assessed (typically mother, father and other dependent children) is decisive.
The father can also apply for childbirth benefits if the mother has died. In addition, a person who has taken permanent custody of the child in place of parental care may apply for childbirth benefits
Maternity and parental leave are two completely different institutes. They differ in everything – in the legislation on which they are based, in the length of the period, in the amount of the allowance and, to some extent, in the range of persons entitled to it. We have discussed everything concerning maternity leave in our separate article.
The amounts are lump sums – they are not based on income or acquisition costs, so you can use them as you wish. Most families invest the money in safety features (car seat, breath monitor) or longer-term expenses such as family health insurance.
You must apply within one year of the child’s birth. You can use the Application for Childbirth Benefit (MLSA) form to help you:
Attach the child’s birth certificate and income certificate to the form. The Labour Office has a 30-day deadline for processing.
According to experts, parents make the same mistakes over and over again:
Proven tips:
Tip: We have discussed the entitlement to maternity leave in detail in a separate article.
Childbirth benefits can provide a nice financial cushion when the family budget is getting thinner. The key is to keep an eye on your income limit, apply on time and enclose all supporting documents. It doesn’t matter if you’re married, a student or a working freelancer – it’s the amount of income and the number of children that counts.
If you are unsure whether you can meet the limit, use an online calculator or contact an attorney. And if the authorities refuse your application? Watch out for the appeal deadline and don’t hesitate to use our services
Have you applied for sickness, maternity, parental allowance or other benefit and instead of the expected support, you received a rejection? Or were you awarded a benefit in a lower amount than is appropriate for your situation?
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