Pregnancy benefit

If you work in the Netherlands and you are pregnant, you have the right to a benefit from the government. This is called pregnancy benefit. 

Pregnant and working 

If you are pregnant and you are working in the Netherlands, you can get pregnancy benefit. This is money you receive while you are on pregnancy leave and maternity leave. You get this money from UWV. If you work for a boss, your employer will claim the benefit. If you are self-employed, you claim the benefit from UWV.  

How long do you receive this benefit? 

Pregnancy benefit is paid for at least 16 weeks in total. You usually start your leave six weeks before you are due to give birth. Once you have given birth, you will continue to receive this benefit for at least 10 weeks. The benefit stops when your leave ends. If you are having multiple birth, such as twins, you get at least 20 weeks. 

How much money do you get? 

If you work for a boss, you usually get the same amount as your wages. If you are self-employed, UWV looks at how many hours you worked in the past year. 

• If you worked 1,225 hours or more, you get roughly the minimum wage. 
• If you worked fewer hours, you get a lower amount. 

Claiming benefit 

You claim pregnancy benefit from UWV. 

• If you work for a boss, your employer will take care of this with UWV. 
• If you are self-employed, you have to claim the benefit from UWV yourself. Make sure you do this no later than two weeks before your leave starts. 

Pregnancy benefit if you are unemployed 

Are you pregnant, are you currently not working, and do you receiving a benefit from UWV, such as unemployment benefit or sickness benefit? In that case, you can still get pregnancy benefit. This is a benefit under the Work and Care Act (WAZO). 

How long will you receive money? 

You receive the benefit for at least 16 weeks. If you are having multiple birth, such as twins, you get at least 20 weeks. 

How much money do you get? 

You get your full daily wage. This is often more than your usual unemployment benefit. 

When do you need to claim this benefit? 

Claim the benefit through the UWV website. Make sure you do this between two and four weeks before your leave starts.