In order to compensate the income not earned in the work while woman is in the maternity leave state grants a maternity benefit to each socially insured woman.
Benefit is paid in two parts - for 56 or 70 days before delivery and 56 or 70 after delivery.
When allocating the maternity benefit 56 and 56 calendar days from maternity leave are summed up resulting in 112 calendar days in total.
Women who have registered the pregnancy until the 12th week of pregnancy and received medical care for the entire period of pregnancy can receive additional 14-day leave. It is added to the maternity leave therefore state can allocate maternity benefit for 70 calendar days.
Woman can receive an additional 14-day leave also in case of health problems during the pregnancy, delivery or post-delivery period or if two or more children are delivered. Also in his case 14-day additional leave is added to the maternity leave and benefit is paid for 70 calendar days in total.
The benefit shall be granted in the amount of 80% of the average insurance contributions salary of the applicant.
From 1 January 2020 women who have lost the status of employee or self-employed person no more than 60 days before maternity leave are also entitled to maternity benefit.
From 1 September 2020 persons, for which compulsory contributions for maternity insurance have been made or had to be made in the Republic of Latvia:
- for at least 3 months in the period of the last 6 months before the month when the insurance event has occurred (the first day of maternity leave), or
- for at least 6 months in the last 24 months
are also entitled to maternity benefit.
More detailed information:
https://www.vsaa.gov.lv/en/services/for-employees/maternity-benefit/