Introduction:

If a mother or her baby are hospitalized for more than 15 days during her maternity leave, she is entitled to an extended leave.
If a mother and her baby are both hospitalized during her maternity leave, but at different times and for less than 15 days each, their respective hospitalization times may be added together (if they total at least 15 days) in order for her to get the benefit of maternity leave extension.
The mother is entitled to receive additional maternity pay for the extended period of maternity leave
For more information, see the National Insurance Institute's English website

Forms

If a mother who has just given birth, or her baby have an extended hospital stay or have to return to the hospital for at least 15 days during the period of her maternity leave, she is entitled to extend the maternity leave in accordance with the hospitalization time and she is also entitled to receive additional maternity pay for the period of the extension, as detailed herein.

  • In such cases, the mother is also has the option to temporarily discontinue her maternity leave (to temporarily stop it during the period of hospitalization and resume leave following hospitalization). In this case the period of hospitalization will not be considered to be part of her maternity leave, and she will be able to take the rest of her leave following release from the hospital. For more information, see: Temporarily Discontinuing Maternity Leave Due to Hospitalization of the Mother or Newborn.

Hospitalization of the Mother

  • A mother who has given birth who must remain in the hospital or who is re-hospitalized for at least 15 days during her regular maternity leave is entitled to extend maternity leave for as long as she was hospitalized, up to a period of 4 weeks.
  • The mother is entitled to receive additional maternity pay for the period of the extension up to a maximum of:
    • 4 additional weeks if she is entitled to a maternity allowance for 14 weeks
    • 2 additional weeks if she is entitled to a partial maternity allowance (for 7 weeks)

Hospitalization of the Newborn

  • If a newborn must remain in the hospital or is re-hospitalized for at least 15 days during the mother's regular maternity leave, the mother is entitled to extend maternity leave for as long as the newborn was hospitalized, up to a period of 20 weeks.
  • The mother is entitled to receive additional maternity pay for the period of the extension up to a maximum of:
    • 20 weeks if she is entitled to a maternity allowance for 14 weeks
    • 12 weeks if she is entitled to a maternity allowance for 7 weeks

Hospitalization of the Mother and the Newborn

  • In a case where both the mother and the baby are hospitalized or re-hospitalized for periods of less than 15 days, the hospital stays can be added together in order to reach a time period that is eligible for extended leave.
  • The joining of the hospital periods in order to be eligible for the extended leave is only on condition that the mother and baby are not hospitalized at the same time

Who is Eligible?

  • A mother who has just given birth who herself or whose baby must remain in the hospital or is hospitalized for at least 15 days during maternity leave.

How to Claim It?

Notice to the Employer

  • The employee (mother) is obligated to give notice, in writing, to her employer at least four days before the day she is scheduled to return to work. If there are circumstances that prevent her from giving notice in this time frame, she should give the notice as soon as she is able to.
  • Documentation from the hospital or attending doctor regarding the details of the mother's and/or baby's hospitalization must be attached to the notice.

Request to Extend Maternity Allowance



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