What income is needed for maximum maternity benefits in 2025?
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May 13, 2025
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Maternity (or parental) leave is one of the most beautiful, but also the most difficult parts of life, especially from a financial perspective. The woman (or the father of the child) leaves her job for a certain period of time and her income is replaced by sick pay. maternal from the Social Insurance Company. In this article you will find answers to all the key questions: who is entitled, for how long and how much money you will actually receive, as well as tips on how to optimize your maternity benefits.
When does the entitlement to maternity leave arise?
Not everyone gets maternity pay automatically. There are three factors that determine this:
Existence of health insurance – on the day you start maternity leave you must be:
- actively insured/insured or
- within the protection period (8 months from the termination of insurance for pregnant women, 7 days for others).
At least 270 days of sickness insurance in the last 2 years before birth. This includes compulsory and voluntary insurance and, under certain circumstances, successfully completed studies (see Chapter 7).
Correct timing of the request – the mother can join:
- from the beginning of the 8th week before the expected date of birth (the earliest possible date),
- but most often 6 weeks before childbirth;
- if the child is born early, maternity leave will be applied on the day of birth.
How long will I receive maternity leave?
| Recipient | Basic length | Single parent* | Twins / more children** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | 34 weeks (238 days) | 37 weeks (259 days) | 43 weeks (301 days) |
| Father | 28 weeks (196 days) | 31 weeks (217 days) | 37 weeks (259 days) |
* Single = does not live in a household with the other parent.
** The mother must realistically claim the longest dose at the same time to take care of at least two from born children.
WARNING: The father can apply only after the mother ends her maternity leave (or waives it in writing).
Maternity benefit amount in 2025
Basic formula
DVZ – daily assessment basis
PDVZ – probable daily assessment basis (if you have no income in the decisive period)
Decisive period
Standard: the entire calendar year 2024.
Exceptions:
change of employer < 90 days → income from the previous employer is counted,
change ≥ 90 days → RO = from the inception of the insurance to the end of the month before the claim,
Self-employed persons pay contributions only for part of the year → RO only includes months from registration (26 weeks minimum).
How do I calculate DVZ?
- I am adding gross income (or assessment bases of self-employed persons) in RO.
- I will count the excluded days (PN, OČR, older parental).
- I will divide number of clean days.
Illustrative example
Employee – full year 2024 gross salary €1,620
DVZ = (1,620 × 12) / 365 = €53.26
Daily maternity leave = 75 % × €53.26 =€39.95
Monthly (30 / 31 days) ≈ €1,199 / €1,239
Maximum maternity leave in 2025
| Year | Max. DVZ | 75 % from DVZ | Maternity leave at 31 days |
| 2025 | €91.9676 | €68.9757 | €2,135.30 |
| 2024 | €85.7425 | €64.3069 | €1,993.60 |
| 2023 | €79.6274 | €59.7206 | €1,851.40 |
| 2022 | €74.4987 | €55.8741 | €1,732.10 |
Required average income: €2,796 per month in RO. The average is enough – you don't have to have the same salary every month.
Model: 9 × €2,300 + €4,500 bonus in October → average €2,808 → maximum maternity fulfilled.
How to deal with low maternity pay?
From 1 January 2025, the RP applies = €478.60/month, increased RP (for twins or previous receipt of maternity benefit) = €597.30/month.
If your mother will not reach these amounts, the Labor Office will automatically pay the difference.
| Maternity | RP | Surcharge | Result |
| €350 | €478.60 | €128.60 | €478.60 |
| €420 | €478.60 | €58.60 | €478.60 |
| €450 (twins) | €597.30 | €147.30 | €597.30 |
High school and university graduates
Up to 270 days of insurance can be counted study period, if:
it was a systematic preparation for the profession,
was successfully completed (high school diploma, diploma),
6-week maternity leave start date starts in 2025.
Example:
Expected birth 11. 2. 2025 → start date is 31. 12. 2024 → study is does not count.
Expected birth 12. 2. 2025 → start 1. 1. 2025 → study is counts.
Attachments to the application: school confirmation + high school diploma/diploma.
Father on maternity leave
The conditions (270 days, DVZ) are identical. The difference is in the length and procedure:
The father can only start after the mother or after her written waiver of the benefit.
During maternity leave must not receive RP.
| Father – family type | Weeks | Days |
| Common situation | 28 | 196 |
| Single father | 31 | 217 |
| Twins / multiple children | 37 | 259 |
Practical scenario:
The mother receives maternity leave for 34 weeks → 238 days.
After the 239th day, the father starts for 28 weeks.
After the father's maternity leave ends, the family can receive RP.