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The Ministry of Social Security and Labor presents amendments to the procedure for granting parental leave and the amounts of childcare benefits paid during them.
“We hope that the improved procedure for granting parental leave and the more favorable calculation of benefits will make life easier for all working families raising children.” We believe that the legal non-transferable child care months will strengthen the bond between the child and the parent when they are together, and the amount of child care benefit paid during this two-month period, equal to the salary received, will be an incentive to take advantage of it, says the Minister of Social Security and Labor, Monika Navickienė.
Although the number of men taking parental leave seems to be increasing in Lithuania, they usually go in the second year of childcare, but they continue to work and the mother continues to care for the child. For example, in 2020. According to Sodra, 40 percent. The beneficiaries of the subsidy for the care of children in the second year of gestation are men and almost all (90% or 7.5 thousand. – work and the child is cared for by the mother at that time.
Sickness and maternity law: what is proposed to change
Finished
It is suggested that parents have the option of choosing whether to receive the childcare allowance until the child reaches 18 months or until the child reaches 24 months. Of these, each of the child’s parents (adoptive parents, guardians) could take care of the child for 2 non-transferable months, and the remaining time could take care of the child and pay the benefit to both the mother and the adoptive father or parents and one of the grandparents.
If, for example, the father does not want to take non-transferable months to care for the child, then the total duration of the child care benefit would be reduced to 22 months. If the father agrees to care for the child within the non-transferable 2 months, then the benefit would be paid and the mother would go back to work.
Benefit amount
If you choose to receive the child care benefit before the child reaches 18 months, it is proposed to set the amount of the child care benefit at 60%. of salary “on paper”, that is, 60%. the insured income of the person, during the 12 consecutive calendar months prior to the month in which the right to receive the childcare benefit arose. For example, people who acquired the right to child care benefit in 2021. In May, compensatory earnings are calculated based on the insured income received in the period from April 1, 2020 to April 31, March 2021.
If you choose to receive the Child Care Benefit before the child is 24 months old, the amount of the Child Care Benefit until the child is 12 months old will be 45%. from the salary “on paper”, and from 12 months until the child reaches 24 months – 25 percent. of the salary “on paper”.
During the non-transferable months of parental leave, it is proposed to pay 78%. of the “paper” wage benefit for childcare. In this way, parents would be encouraged to take non-transferable months of parental leave, as the amount of parental benefit would not differ from the salary received. It is true that those who receive a high salary should bear in mind that the allowance for childcare will not be more than 2 times the average salary.
If the child is raised by a single parent, he will be entitled to 2 months of non-transferable parental leave and will be entitled to parental benefit for an additional 2 months of parental leave, that is, 78% for 4 months. of the “paper” wage benefit for childcare.
It is proposed to establish a non-exhaustive list of cases in which a child is considered to have been raised by one of his or her parents (adoptive parents) or guardians, thus giving municipalities the right to decide whether a person actually raises a child alone. . for example or psychological violence against a child, etc.
If two or more children are born or a person adopts or has custody of two or more children, the total amount of child care benefits paid will not exceed 78%. of the salary “on paper”.
If a person who receives a childcare allowance becomes entitled to a maternity or childcare allowance due to the birth, custody, or adoption of another child, both benefits are credited, but the full amount of benefits it cannot exceed 78%. of the salary “on paper” on which the maternity benefit or childcare benefit is calculated.
The duration and amounts of the childcare allowance have been chosen in such a way that the beneficiaries of the childcare allowance do not suffer and, after adding the amount of the childcare allowance during all year round, they receive the same or even more than they currently receive.
Contribution of grandparents
It is important to know that although grandparents will not be able to take advantage of the non-transferable months of child care for their mother and father, they will be able to care for their grandchild and receive child care subsidy for the rest of the time if they meet the legal conditions.
Opportunity to work
In order to encourage beneficiaries of childcare benefits to work while raising the child, it is proposed to clarify the provisions on the amount of childcare benefits in cases where the mother or child the father also earn income from work.
There would be an opportunity to work during the months, which are assigned to the mother and father and cannot be transferred to anyone, but the additional income would reduce the childcare allowance. T. and. If the amount of the additional income received is less than the childcare subsidy, the difference between the childcare subsidy and the income earned in the respective month is paid to the person, and if its amount is greater than or equal to the childcare subsidy, the childcare subsidy is not paid.
However, in all other months, the additional income would not reduce the benefit received, as long as the benefit amount and the additional income do not exceed 100%. previous average salary.
In cases where the child is raised by one of the parents and receives a child care allowance for an additional part of the two-month parental leave and has additional income, the child care allowance is paid regardless of the additional income received at that time.
Paternity benefit – to a wider range of beneficiaries
It is proposed to shorten the period of social security to receive the paternity benefit. Instead of the 12 months that are currently required, twice a 6-month social security history in the last 24 months will be enough to receive parental benefit.
This is a proposal from the Ministry of Social Security and Labor. Public consultations were held on the bill and the Ministry consulted the public and experts. Coordination with stakeholders is ongoing. If the bill is approved by the Government and the Seimas, these modifications would take effect in 2022. on August 1.
