Maternity leave in Germany explained | Mutterschutz in Germany!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- This video is about the Maternity leave or Maternity protection in Germany, the known "Mutterschutz" and the "Mutterschutzgesetz", and it's law, the Maternity protection Act.
I hope you get the information you were looking for!
CORRECTION **At some point (at 04:35) I say that the mutterschutz is usually until 4 months after delivery, sorry! I mean 8 weeks after delivery, so 2 months after delivery!**
💡 VIDEO CONTENT:
0:00 - 0:30: Intro
0:31 - 1:19: Parental allowance and Parental leave in Germany booklet
1:20 - 1:56: What is Maternity leave in Germany (Mutterschutz)?
1:57 - 2:41: Who is entitled to receive Maternity leave in Germany (Mutterschutz)?
2:42 - 5:03: How does the Maternity protection law (Mutterschutzgesetz) protects you?
5:04 - 6:26: Maternity leave duration - Special protection period (Schutzfristen)
6:27 - 10:08: Maternity allowance or Maternity benefit in Germany?
10:09 - 11:51: Wrap up
If you don't know me yet, My name is Marga, I am portuguese and live in Germany with my husband and son in the lovely city of Heidelberg.
I moved to Germany in 2013, and stayed. We got married in 2017 and our son, aka little lion, was born in 2018. Right now we are waiting for our daughter to come to the world 😍
If you would like to know more about my adventures as a foreign mother in Germany 🇩🇪 , don't forget to subscribe to my channel 📹 You can also check my Instagram ( / aboe_motheringermany , Facebook ( / abitofeverythingbymarga ) and Website (aboebymarga.com).
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All information on this video:
👉 aboebymarga.co...
All relevant links:
👉Leitfaden zum Mutterschutz (Guidelines for "mother's protection") - www.bmfsfj.de/...
👉Muttershafts (maternity protection benefit) calculator - www.elterngeld...
👉Mutterschaftsgeld / Maternity benefit calculator - www.elterngeld...
Do you have further questions that I might be of help?
Let me know on the comments down below 👇
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Music used on this video: TH-cam library
Illustrations used on this video: pixabay.com/
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📷 → → Here my filming setup*:
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► Objective 2: amzn.to/3cYeY3a (the one I use to vlog)
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/ @margamotheringermany
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More information about motherhood in Germany 🇩🇪:
►► (English/Português) ◀◀
WEBSITE → aboebymarga.com
EMAIL → aboebymarga@gmail.com
INSTAGRAM → / aboe_motheringermany
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#motheringermany #aboebymarga #aboemotheringermany #expatmother #foreignmother #migrantmother #parentingingermany #pregnantingermany #mutterschutz #mutterschutzgesetz #maternityleave #maternityleaveingermany # pregnancyingermany #motheringermany #maternitybenefit
Thank you for the information and guidance!
Very welcome 🤗
That was very well put together, thank you ❤
Quick question: out baby is almost 1 year old now, but my wife‘s employer is pushing to ge my wife to ask for Mutterschaftsgeld, which she never did. She felt and still feels that the amount is not worth the hustle with all the administration and communication with the insurance involved. Also, during the period she was on maternity leave, I was on her insurance and she heard that this fact alone makes it a reason for the health insurance to ASK for money instead of allowing her money… Bottom line : she wishes not to apply for the allowance.
Can she do that?
We feel that since it is a right and not compulsory, she should be able to leave it be.
Her employer is pushing though, probably because they want to ask the insurance for a refund.
Do you know if she would be falling into a trap, legal of financial, by not asking for her allowance or would she be fine?
The insurance told her today that she just needs to write them a message saying she doesn‘t wish to have the allowance but maybe they‘re hiding the consequences because the lady at the insurance said on the phone that she never heard of such a thing and my wife is afraid that they‘re of the very-german mindset of :“let that fool woman experience all the pain of not following the herd“…
Hi :) thank you for your comment!
That's a very pertinent question. Here my comments and remarks:
1. Maternity leave and pay in Germany is taken pretty serious, and I don't believe that since it was created there were many women renouncing it. At least the ones aware of maternity pay.
2. For your wife's employer it only means more paper work, since companies are reimbursed the whole Maternity pay amount. So, they would pay your wife a certain amount of money and that exact amount would be reimbursed. I don't believe they will get anything over that amount. The only person getting something plus is your wife.
3. Is your wife insured by a statutory or private health insurance? The amount of maternity pay vary according to your type of health insurance, and may be more or less worth to apply.
4. You being on her insurance doesn't change anything concerning her maternity leave or maternity pay rights. And health insurances usually follow a pregnant and postpartum woman's rights strictly.
5. Actually, applying to maternity pay is not that stressful or complicated comparing to all other applications I've had to go through here in Germany 😂 (not sure if you applied for Parental allowance ("Elterngeld"). That's a pain!). For maternity allowance you usually need to fill a small form from your health insurance, and send 2 documents: one with the planned due date, and the other one is your child's birth certificate (I guess they already have your child's birth certificate - "Geburtsurkunde" - since the health insurance needs it to insure your child).
6. You are totally right - Maternity pay is not compulsory and you do not need to claim it!
7. The only small negative consequence I can probably think is the tax return. Since Maternity pay is money you receive without paying taxes, in the end of the year you might have to pay a little bit more taxes (in terms of taxes return) than usual.
8. My experience in Germany and with official/state services tells me 2 things: 1) It is hard to find someone friendly; 2) They are very honest and tell you the truth - So I believe this woman is just telling the truth when she says that "she never heard of such thing", even if she didn't sound that nice and even scared you 🙃 they can also have that effect on people!
I hope my points help you to feel more confident whatever choice you take, and feel free to reach to me if you need further clarifications!
Wish you and your family all the best 🤗
Informative video. Thanks. Can a privately insured person get 13 euros/day? Is there any conditions? Can you please help on this point? I can't find this information in this video.
Hi! Thank you very much for your question. Yes, I do not go very deep into the private insurance details. But answering to your specific question, no, privately insured pregnant and recent mothers do not receive the 13 Eur/day during the maternity protection period (Mutterschutz). The financial support these women can get during this period depends on theirs work situation, self employed or employee:
1) Self-employed privately insured women are not entitled to maternity allowance (Mutterschaftsgeld). However, if they have a private daily sickness allowance insurance (Krankentagegeldversicherung), they can receive the agreed daily sickness benefit during the maternity protection period if they are unable to work or can only work to a limited extent. Waiting or qualifying periods may apply (this depends on the specific insurance and contract).
2) Privately insured employed women receive limited maternity allowance of up to €210 from the Federal Office for Social Security (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung). Additionally, their employer provides a supplement (Arbeitgeberzuschuss), and it corresponds to the difference between €13 per day and their average net salary. If they have daily sickness allowance insurance (Krankentagegeldversicherung), they are also entitled to the agreed benefit during the protection period. Again, waiting or qualifying periods may apply (this depends on the specific insurance and contract).
I hope this information helped you! You can find it in the "Leitfaden zum Mutterschutz" Booklet, unfortunatelly it is only available in German: www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/service/publikationen/leitfaden-zum-mutterschutz-73756
Thanks for the video! How is the mutterschutzgeld paid in the case when the women is employees and has normal health insurance? Is it paid all at once or monthly? Tks :)
Hi Larissa. Usually the health insurance contribution is divided in 2 payments: When maternity protection begins, you will receive the first advance payment from your health insurance. This includes maternity allowance for the six weeks before the birth.
After the birth certificate has been presented, the remaining maternity allowance (8 weeks after birth) can be paid in advance for the full eight weeks in one sum immediately .
You receive the employer contribution at the usual time as you would receive your salary.
@@margamotheringermany super thanks :)
@@larissaguimaraes3412 you're welcome 🤗
Thank you for this video! I can't find it anywhere online, does the 8 weeks of mutterschutz after the child is born only start after the child is actually born or automatically on the "due date" - thank you!
Hi Gabiamaj and thank you so much for your comment! The 8 weeks start automatically after the child is actually born and the due date has no relevance anymore. Let me know if I can help with something else ☺️
@@margamotheringermany Thank you so much - super helpful!
@@gabiamajora you're welcome 🤗
Hello! Is it possible to "transfer" the 6 weeks that you're supposed to take before the birth to the period after the baby is born? Like can I take the entire 14 weeks only after the birth? Thank you!
Hi Marisa! By law it is not possible to postpone unused maternity protection periods before birth to the period after birth. Only in the case of premature births and other premature births are the maternity protection periods after birth extended by the period of the protection period before birth that could not be used.
Let me know if you need further support, and wish you a great time with your small one/s 😊
Thank you for such a nice and informative video. I wanted to know what will change if I want to visit my family after birth. Does it affect my allowance?
You're welcome ☺️ I am glad you liked it! Do you mean if you visit your family, in another country, for some weeks, or even months? If you remain registered in Germany with an address, it shouldn't change anything. Just be aware that I am talking about the maternity leave (6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth) on this video, and not the parental leave (up to 3 years after birth).
@@margamotheringermany Thanks a lot once again. Yes, I meant to visit another country like Canada. Ok I understood :)
@@sonumbification ☺️☺️
Ola, thanks for the video..
Can wife recieve benefits if she is longer in pregnancy and maternity leave longer then this protection period.? For example 7 months of pregnancy leave and 12 months of maternity leave.
Thanks
Hi 🙌 thanks for the comment! Do you mean financial benefits? For the maternity leave, it is just from 6 weeks before the die date and 8 weeks after birth (or 12 weeks in some exceptions, please check the video). After this period of time it is not called maternity leave nor Mutterschutz, but Elternzeit, and during Elternzeit you can get Elterngeld. Check my videos about Elterngeld (some of mine Elterngeld videos: 1) Overview: th-cam.com/video/Nx1SYnzqQ24/w-d-xo.htmlsi=q4gqT1aittZI1f2u; 2) Types of Elterngeld: th-cam.com/video/EPUWqspXaUA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rVz3EzZ7ekBeTMAa; 3) How to calculate Elterngeld: th-cam.com/video/5UwGAgmpSI8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=pW-Ln76hnMZ3P8lh). I hope this information helps you.
I am moving to Germany and want to be prepared for possible pregnancy. Does my work need to specify any maternity benefits in my contract?
Hi Christelle! No, you don't need any of this information or mention on your contract. Usually contracts actually do not mention the "Mutterschutzgesetz". But if you have a contract in Germany and are pregnant you will be under it ☺️
@@margamotheringermany Does this also apply to limited contract employees?
Hi@@bmn6283! This is a complex situation. Maternity leave is also available for temporary positions (limited contract employees). As long as the employment is ongoing, maternity protection for temporary positions does not differ from maternity protection for permanent positions. So if you have a limited position, you get maternity leave until your employment contract is valid. When your employment contract ends, your maternity leave also ends.
When your employment relationship ends during maternity leave:
1) And you have a statutory health insurance - your health insurance company takes over the employer's share of the maternity benefit - but only in the amount of the sickness benefit. Until the end of the maternity protection period, the health insurance company pays both the maternity benefit and the employer’s subsidy (in the amount of the sickness benefit).
2) And you are privately insured - you will continue to receive maternity benefit from the Federal Insurance Office (Bundesversicherungsamt).
I hope this information is helpful 😊
@@margamotheringermany Thank you so much for this clear explanation. Your channel adds a whole lot of value to us foreigners living in Germany
How long a woman has to be employed with the employers to avail meternity leave
Hi Barsha. The maternity leave (Mutterschutz) law has to be followed no matter how much time a woman is employed. A pregnant woman can even start working in one day and next day inform about her pregnancy. After the maternity leave (6 weeks before The de date and 8 weeks after birth) comes the parental leave (Elternzeit/Elterngeld), to calculate the amount of Elterngeld you receive. They go back to the last 12 months and check how much the salary was during those months. It doesn't matter if a woman had different Jobs, positions, worked in different companies. I don't have a video yet about the Elternzeit and Elterngeld, but I am planning on filming it soon ☺️
Is there any financial benefit for mothers during pregnancy in Germany?
Yea there is. For the last 6 weeks of pregnancy usually
Mein Baby wurde in Brasilien geboren, bekomme ich Geld vom Mutterschutz?
Hi Daiane! The prerequisites for receiving maternity benefit is that you are resident in Germany, employed and a member of one statutory health insurance. It is not necessary for the child to be born in Germany.
You are therefore entitled to maternity benefit (6 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after birth).
Instead of a German birth certificate, you will have to provide your health insurance your child's Brazilian birth certificate and its translation (by an official translator).
I hope this information was helpful and let me know if you need more clarifications ☺️
Auf Deutsch: Hallo Diana! Voraussetzung für Mutterschaftsgeld ist, dass du in Deutschland wohnst, Mitarbeiter und Mitglied einer gesetzlichen Krankenkasse bist. Eine Geburt des Kindes in Deutschland ist nicht erforderlich.
Du hast dann Anspruch auf Mutterschaftsgeld (6 Wochen vor der Geburt und 8 Wochen nach der Geburt).
Statt einer deutschen Geburtsurkunde müss du deiner Krankenkasse die brasilianische Geburtsurkunde deines Kindes und deren Übersetzung (beglaubigt) vorlegen.
Ich hoffe, diese Informationen waren hilfreich und lass mich wissen, wenn du weitere Fragen hast ☺️