Lithuania - Maternity and paternity benefit
This section contains up-to-date information on Maternity benefit (Motinystės išmoka), Paternity Benefit (Tėvystės išmoka) and Childcare benefit (Vaiko priežiūros išmoka) paid to parents who raise a child, procedures for awarding them, calculation of the amounts and differences between them.
In what situation can I claim?
Benefit is paid initially to the mother for the duration of maternity leave (Maternity benefit) and to the father for the duration of paternity leave (Paternity benefit). Subsequently, a parental leave benefit is payable to the parent caring for the child (Childcare benefit).
A lump sum benefit for pregnant women (vienkartinė išmoka nėščiai moteriai) is payable to those who are not eligible for maternity benefit under the Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance (see “Family Benefits”).
What conditions do I need to meet?
Entitlement to Maternity benefit and Childcare benefit extends to all those insured who have maternity social insurance record of at least 12 of the previous 24 months.
Entitlement to Paternity benefit extends to all those insured who have social insurance record of at least 6 of the previous 24 months.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Maternity benefit is paid for 70 calendar days prior to the birth of the child up until 56 days after the birth. In the event of birth complications or a multiple birth, an allowance is paid for an extra 14 calendar days. Maternity benefit is equal to 77.58% of earnings.
An insured person who is appointed as a guardian of a new-born child is entitled to a maternity benefit from the date the guardianship is confirmed up until the child is 70 days old.
Paternity benefit is paid to the father for 30 calendar days, which can be split into two parts, after the birth of the child with the possibility of choosing when to receive the benefit until the child is one year old. It is equal to 77.58% of earnings.
Childcare benefit is paid to one of the parents (or adoptive parent), one of the grandparents or guardian caring for the child. It is calculated in relation to earnings (see below) and depends on the time scale chosen:
- if someone insured elects to receive the benefit up until the child is 18 months old, it amounts to 60% of their earnings.
- Where someone elects to receive the benefit up until the child is 2 years old, it amounts to 45% of earnings for the first year, and 30% for the second year. In the event of a multiple birth, the benefit varies with the number of children born, but it cannot exceed 78% of earnings.
- For both cases, the amount of the childcare benefit for the two non-transferable months of childcare leave is 78% of the beneficiary’s compensatory wage. The childcare benefit of the same amount will be paid for the additional 2 months of childcare leave, which is granted in cases where the child is raised by only one parent.
- If parents work during non-transferable leave, the benefit will be reduced by the amount of income received. It will be possible to work during transferable childcare leave, but the amount of the benefit and the salary received will not be able to exceed the salary from which the benefit was calculated. During the additional two months (paid for lone parents), it is possible to work and receive the full amount of childcare benefit.
Income is calculated in accordance with insurable earnings (see Jargon busters below) for the 12 months before the leave commences.
The following lower and upper limits to the benefit apply: minimum amount per month cannot be lower than 6 times the Basic Social Benefit (EUR 294). The earnings base used to calculate paternity/childcare benefit cannot be more than twice the national average monthly wage of the two quarters preceding the month when the person became entitled to the paternity or child care benefit (EUR 3,574.20), except for maternity benefit which it is not subject to any ceiling.
Upon adopting a child, childcare benefit is granted by SoDra. Childcare benefit is paid 18 or 24 months, optionally, regardless of the age of the adopted child and until the child reaches the age of 18. The amount is 60% of the earnings if the benefit is received for 18 months and if the benefit is received for 24 months, during the first year the amount is 45% of the earnings, and 30% for the second year.
Maternity/Paternity benefits and Childcare benefits are paid by local SoDra offices.
Compulsory health insurance covers maternity hospital care, as well as other forms of healthcare.
Jargon Buster
- Maternity benefit - a benefit paid to a mother during pregnancy and maternity leave;
- Paternity benefit - a benefit paid to a father for 30 calendar days, which can be split into two parts, until the child turns one year;
- Childcare benefit - a benefit paid optionally to one or other parent (step-parent), grandparent or guardian;
- Insured income - all personal income liable for State social security deductions to insure against sickness and maternity, as well as sickness, occupational rehabilitation, maternity, paternity, childcare benefits, work-related accidents or occupational diseases benefits, and unemployment benefits;
- SoDra - the State Social Insurance Fund Board under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the principal body that organises social security.
Forms you may need to fill in
Applications for maternity, paternity and childcare benefits may be submitted online, completed at the local SoDra office (on the relevant form), or sent by post.
You must also submit details of the bank account into which you wish the allowance to be paid.
Your employer should submit a request for benefit to be granted.
Know your rights
These links will help you find out what your rights are. These are not European Commission websites and may not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission:
SoDra information on:
European Commission publications and websites:
Who do you need to contact?
By telephoning the SoDra information centre on 1883 or on +370 52500883 you can find out all about benefits.