Lithuania Approves Changes to Maternity Benefit Payments

The Lithuanian parliament has approved amendments to the maternity benefit payment system, enhancing support for new parents. A key change extends the duration of maternity benefits for individuals appointed as guardians of newborns, providing payments from the date guardianship is established until the child reaches 126 days old. Throughout the four-month period, the benefit will continue to be paid at 100% of the former salary, received "net". For cases of complicated childbirth or the birth of multiple children, an additional 14 calendar days of benefits will be provided, consistent with current practice.

"We aim to ensure that all women have equal social guarantees after childbirth, regardless of the week of pregnancy, the baby's health condition, or whether they took pregnancy and childbirth leave before delivery," stated acting Minister of Social Security and Labor, Jūratė Zailskienė. "The consequences of childbirth remain for a woman's physical and emotional health in all cases, so it is important to provide sufficient time for recovery and ensure financial security."

The extended maternity benefit duration will apply in several specific scenarios. These include women who did not take pregnancy and childbirth leave before their delivery date (at 30 or more weeks of pregnancy), women who gave birth between 22 and 30 weeks of pregnancy and the baby did not survive past 28 days, and women who gave birth to a stillborn child between 22 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. In these cases, the benefit duration is significantly increased from the current shorter periods.

Further provisions address situations where a child is stillborn or dies during the maternity benefit period. In such instances, the mother will receive the benefit regardless of any work income she may earn if she decides to return to work earlier, preventing the need to repay previously paid benefits. Additionally, the amendments offer more flexibility for families where one parent has a severe disability preventing them from taking their non-transferable parental leave months. In these situations, the other parent, adoptive parent, or guardian can claim the additional two months of parental care benefit. This also applies to single guardians.

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We aim to ensure that all women have equal social guarantees after childbirth, regardless of the week of pregnancy, the baby's health condition, or whether they took pregnancy and childbirth leave before delivery. The consequences of childbirth remain for a woman's physical and emotional health in all cases, so it is important to provide sufficient time for recovery and ensure financial security.