How is maternity leave calculated?

Do not confuse maternity leave with parental leave or maternity benefits. Maternity leave is time off work that an employer grants to an employee in connection with childbirth and the care of a newborn child. It generally lasts 28 weeks, or 37 weeks in the case of the birth of two or more children. Maternity benefits, commonly referred to as “maternity pay,” are, by contrast, a benefit provided under health insurance. It can be received not only by female employees but also, provided they meet the legal requirements, by self-employed individuals or the children’s fathers. The amount depends on previous earnings, specifically on the assessment base for sickness insurance. Therefore, not every woman on maternity leave is automatically entitled to maternity benefits.

Maternity leave is usually followed by parental leave, which the employer grants at the parent’s request until the child reaches the age of three. Parental leave should be distinguished from the parental allowance, which is paid by the Czech Labor Office. For children born on or after January 1, 2024, the total amount of the parental allowance per child is 350,000 CZK. For multiple births, an increased total amount of 700,000 CZK applies starting in 2026; for children born in previous years, the relevant transitional rules must be taken into account. For children born in 2024 or later, the parental allowance can be received until the child reaches the age of three. The parent chooses the monthly amount within the limits set by law. If a sufficiently high daily assessment base cannot be determined for either parent, the maximum monthly amount is 15,000 CZK for a single child and 30,000 CZK for multiple births. Provided the statutory conditions are met, the parental allowance may also be received while employed or self-employed and is not contingent upon taking parental leave.

Calculation of Maternity Leave for Female Employees

The amount of maternity benefits is 70% of the reduced daily assessment base for each calendar day. For female employees, the daily assessment base is generally determined based on income subject to health insurance for the 12 calendar months preceding the month in which maternity leave begins. The total eligible income is divided by the number of calendar days in the reference period, from which the days excluded by law—such as certain days of temporary incapacity for work—are subtracted. The daily assessment base calculated in this way is then adjusted using three reduction thresholds, which change annually. To be eligible for the benefit, the statutory conditions for sickness insurance must also be met, in particular, participation in the insurance for at least 270 calendar days in the last two years prior to the start of maternity benefits and the continuation of insurance coverage or the protection period on the date the benefits begin.

Are you eligible for maternity benefits even after your employment ends?

A woman whose employment ended before she began receiving the benefit may also be eligible for maternity benefits. If health insurance coverage ended during pregnancy, the grace period for maternity benefits may be up to 180 calendar days from the end of coverage. However, if the insurance coverage lasted for a shorter period, the grace period corresponds to its actual duration. Another requirement is meeting the necessary period of participation in sickness insurance, as well as any other statutory conditions. For other insured persons, the grace period is generally only seven calendar days. Therefore, the termination of employment does not automatically mean a loss of entitlement to maternity benefits.

Example of Calculating Maternity Benefits in 2026

Let’s consider an employee with a regular gross monthly salary of 60,000 CZK, who had 365 calendar days in the qualifying period and no excluded days.

• Annual eligible income: 60,000 CZK × 12 = 720,000 CZK.
• Daily assessment base: 720,000 CZK ÷ 365 = approximately 1,972.60 CZK.

Reduction thresholds for maternity benefits in 2026:

• 100% of the daily assessment base is included up to the first reduction threshold of 1,633 CZK.
• 60% of the amount between 1,633 CZK and 2,449 CZK is included.
• 30% of the amount between 2,449 CZK and 4,897 CZK is included.
• Amounts above 4,897 CZK are not taken into account.

In our example, the first and second reduction thresholds apply. 100% of the amount up to 1,633 CZK is included, and 60% of the remaining portion of the daily assessment base. The reduced daily assessment base, after statutory rounding, is thus 1,837 CZK. Maternity benefits amount to 70% of this amount, which, after rounding, is 1,286 CZK per calendar day. Over 30 calendar days, the employee will receive 38,580 CZK. The actual amount of the benefit depends on the specific reference period, eligible earnings, and any excluded days.

Maternity benefits are not a wage substitute paid by the employer, but rather a sickness insurance benefit provided through the Czech Social Security Administration. The amount is 70% of the reduced daily assessment base and is paid for calendar days, including weekends and holidays.

To get a rough estimate of your maternity benefits, you do not need to know all the formulas or the current reduction thresholds. For example, you can use the health insurance benefits calculator on the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs website, which takes into account the rules in effect for the relevant calendar year. The resulting amount is only an estimate, as the actual benefit amount is determined by the relevant social security administration based on your income and insurance history.

Maternity Benefits Upon the Birth of Another Child

As of July 1, 2026, the eligibility criteria for receiving maternity benefits upon the birth of another child have been expanded. Under certain conditions, a woman who is no longer covered by sickness insurance and does not meet the standard eligibility requirements for the benefit may still be eligible. This applies in particular to situations where a woman is expecting another child within four years of her previous birth, received maternity benefits at the time of the previous birth, and, prior to becoming eligible for the previous benefit, had at least 540 calendar days of health insurance coverage in the preceding four years. If she meets the legal requirements, the new maternity benefit may be calculated based on the daily assessment base used for the previous benefit. This provision may be particularly helpful to women whose employment ended between pregnancies.

How is maternity leave calculated for self-employed individuals?

Self-employed individuals may be eligible for maternity benefits if they meet the legal requirements for sickness insurance. The basic requirement is participation in sickness insurance for at least 270 calendar days during the two years prior to becoming eligible for benefits. In addition, self-employed individuals are required to have participated in voluntary sickness insurance for self-employed individuals for at least 180 calendar days during the last year prior to becoming eligible for maternity benefits. Under the statutory conditions, previous periods of sickness insurance coverage from employment may also be counted toward the total period of 270 days. Sickness insurance for self-employed individuals is voluntary; therefore, it is advisable to enroll well in advance. To be eligible for standard sickness benefits as a self-employed person, you must have been enrolled in sickness insurance for at least three months immediately prior to the onset of temporary incapacity for work. However, simply paying premiums does not in itself establish entitlement to sickness benefits—a doctor-certified temporary incapacity for work and fulfillment of other legal conditions are also required.

The minimum monthly premium for voluntary sickness insurance for self-employed individuals is 243 CZK in 2026. This is based on a minimum monthly base of 9,000 CZK and an insurance premium rate of 2.7%. If a self-employed person meets the eligibility requirements for maternity benefits and paid premiums based solely on the minimum monthly base throughout the entire qualifying period, their benefit will be relatively low. As a rough estimate, this amounts to approximately 210 Kč per calendar day, or approximately 41,000 Kč for the standard benefit period of 28 weeks. The exact amount depends on the length of the qualifying period, the number of eligible calendar days, and the insurance premiums actually paid. Sickness insurance for self-employed individuals is voluntary and is paid separately from mandatory pension insurance.

If you do not normally pay sickness insurance premiums and are considering paying them in the future solely to qualify for maternity benefits, it is definitely a good idea to calculate in advance whether it will be worth your while. Be sure to factor in the necessary administrative work involved as well.

Self-employed individuals can influence the amount of maternity benefits through the monthly base from which they pay voluntary sickness insurance premiums. The insurance premium rate for 2026 is 2.7%. However, self-employed individuals cannot arbitrarily set unlimited contributions, as the maximum monthly base for sickness insurance is generally derived from the specified assessment base listed in the most recent relevant income and expense statement. Therefore, it is not possible to generally specify a single premium amount that would guarantee the maximum maternity benefit for all self-employed women. Furthermore, the amount of the benefit depends on the monthly bases during the qualifying period, typically covering the previous 12 calendar months. If a self-employed person plans to increase her sickness insurance contributions before becoming pregnant, she should verify in advance her maximum allowable monthly assessment base and the expected benefit amount.

A self-employed person applies for maternity benefits through the relevant social security administration office. The attending physician, usually a gynecologist, electronically issues a confirmation of the expected date of delivery and sends it to the Czech Social Security Administration. The woman is provided with a confirmation ID, which is used to claim the benefit. The self-employed person then submits an application to the relevant social security administration, usually electronically via the ČSSZ ePortal or a data box. In certain cases, the application can also be submitted in paper form. It is advisable to check the current procedure on the Czech Social Security Administration’s website.

Can a self-employed person continue to run a business while receiving maternity benefits?

If a self-employed person is receiving maternity benefits from her voluntary health insurance, she may not personally engage in the self-employment activity that gave rise to her entitlement on the days for which she is receiving the benefit. However, she does not automatically have to suspend or terminate her business. Business operations may continue, for example, through employees, collaborators, or other authorized persons. If the self-employed woman performs her business activities in person only on certain days, she is not entitled to the benefit for those days and must report them to the relevant social security administration. A different situation arises if a woman receives maternity benefits from her employer while simultaneously running her own business. In such a case, continuing her self-employment need not be an obstacle to receiving the benefit.

What to Do If You Are Not Eligible for Maternity Benefits?

Whether voluntary sickness insurance is worthwhile for a self-employed person depends on the amount of premiums paid, the length of insurance coverage, planned parenthood, and other circumstances. It is therefore not possible to generally state that sickness insurance or maternity benefits are not worthwhile for self-employed women. If a self-employed person does not meet the conditions for maternity benefits, she may be eligible for a parental allowance after the child’s birth. In some cases, sickness benefits may also be an option, provided the separate conditions for their granting are met.

• If you are not eligible for maternity benefits, you can apply to the Czech Labor Office for a parental allowance after the birth of your child. This allowance is not contingent on prior participation in sickness insurance. You can choose the monthly amount within the limits set by law and adjust it as needed. The parental allowance is a state social assistance benefit, not parental leave, which is available to employees.
• Another option is to enroll in voluntary sickness insurance for self-employed individuals and, if you meet the legal requirements, receive sickness benefits. To be eligible for sickness benefits as a self-employed individual, you generally must have been insured for at least three months immediately prior to the onset of temporary incapacity for work. However, pregnancy itself or the payment of three monthly premiums does not automatically establish entitlement to the benefit. Sickness benefits are payable in the event of a doctor-certified temporary incapacity to work, such as health complications during pregnancy. If a woman is not eligible for maternity benefits but is covered by sickness insurance and meets the relevant conditions, she may be eligible for sickness benefits in connection with her pregnancy and childbirth, both before and after delivery. She may then apply for a parental allowance. The specific entitlement to and duration of sickness benefits must always be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Who Pays Maternity Leave Benefits and When?

Maternity benefits are part of sickness insurance benefits and are paid by the Czech Social Security Administration through the relevant social security office. The benefit is paid retroactively for the calendar month for which it is due. Unlike wages, however, it does not have a fixed payment date. By law, it must be paid no later than one month from the date the relevant social security office received all the necessary and correctly completed documentation for its payment. If the payment has not been received, it is advisable to check the status of the application via the ČSSZ ePortal or to contact the relevant social security office.

Can the father also receive maternity benefits?

Maternity benefits are not intended exclusively for mothers. Under the conditions set forth by law, the child’s father or the husband of the woman who gave birth may also receive them. He may begin receiving the benefit no earlier than the start of the seventh week after the birth, i.e., after the six-week postpartum period has elapsed. He must meet the conditions for health insurance coverage and enter into a written agreement with the mother to assume care of the child, generally for at least seven consecutive calendar days. The mother’s signature on the agreement must be notarized. The benefit period for the father is a maximum of 22 weeks, or a maximum of 31 weeks when caring for multiple births, taking into account the period during which the mother previously received the benefit in accordance with statutory rules.

When does maternity leave begin and end?

As a general rule, an employee may begin maternity leave at the start of the eighth through sixth week before the expected date of delivery, as determined by the attending physician. She chooses the specific start date within this range herself. The same period also determines the start date for maternity benefits. If a woman does not specify the start date for receiving benefits, it is deemed to be the beginning of the sixth week before the expected date of delivery. If the birth occurs before the woman begins receiving the benefit, the benefit period begins on the date of birth.

An employee’s maternity leave generally lasts 28 weeks; in the case of the birth of two or more children, it lasts 37 weeks. The same basic duration of the benefit period applies to maternity benefits paid to a woman who has given birth. However, to continue receiving maternity benefits after the 28-week period following the birth of multiple children, the woman must continue to care for at least two of the children born. If the child’s father or another eligible person receives the maternity benefit, the benefit period is generally no more than 22 weeks, or 31 weeks when caring for multiple children, subject to additional statutory rules. Therefore, the length of maternity leave and the duration of benefit receipt cannot automatically be equated in all cases.

If a woman decides to continue working even after the start of the sixth week before the expected date of delivery, she must expect that the benefit period for maternity benefits will already begin to be counted. However, she is not entitled to maternity benefits for the days on which she works at the job that gave rise to her entitlement to the benefit. Therefore, continuing to work beyond this point does not automatically extend the period during which she receives the benefit.

Summary

Maternity leave and maternity benefits are two distinct legal concepts. Maternity leave refers to an employee’s time off from work, while maternity benefits are a sickness insurance benefit. The amount of the benefit is 70% of the reduced daily assessment base and is generally calculated based on income from the previous 12 calendar months. In 2026, the reduction thresholds are 1,633 CZK, 2,449 CZK, and 4,897 CZK. To be eligible for the benefit, an employee must generally have been enrolled in sickness insurance for at least 270 days during the last two years. For self-employed individuals, at least 180 days of participation in voluntary sickness insurance for the self-employed during the past year is also required, and the minimum monthly premium in 2026 is 243 Kč. Maternity benefits are paid retroactively through the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ). A woman may generally begin receiving it six to eight weeks before the expected date of delivery and continue to receive it for 28 weeks, or 37 weeks in the case of multiple births, provided certain additional conditions are met. If parents are not eligible for maternity benefits, they may apply for a parental allowance after the child’s birth.