Allowances For Working Mothers
In Cyprus, employed women are entitled to maternity allowance and child grant. Women must not terminate their employment due to pregnancy but ask for a maternity leave.
MATERNITY ALLOWANCE
Maternity allowance is an approved leave from the job for a period of 22 weeks for a first or second child and 26 weeks for a third or subsequent child, paid by the Social Insurance. At least 11 of these weeks, including two weeks before the expected birth and eight weeks after, are mandatory.
The allowance is paid for the duration of the maternity leave, with the payment calculated as a percentage of the mother’s salary, which can be 72%, 80%, 90%, or 100% depending on the number of children.
- The application (Maternity Allowance Application) must be submitted after completing the 25th week of pregnancy and it must be submitted within 21 days from the date you want the allowance to start.
- The application must be submitted via CY Login www.gov.cy
- Asylum seekers who do not have access to CY Login submit the paper applications to Social Insurance.
The application needs to be accompanied by the mother’s IBAN, a doctor’s certificate confirming the pregnancy (or birth certificate if the baby has been born already) and employer’s declaration confirming absence from work done electronically in case of electronic application, and – in case of asylum seekers – by a copy of their Confirmation Letter and ARC (Alien Registration Certificate, i.e. Alien Book).
Maternity allowance is paid after a declaration of child’s birth is made. It is usually paid in two instalments directly into the mother’s bank account.
DECLARATION OF CHILD’S BIRTH
Once the child is born, the mother must submit details of the child’s birth certificate, via email in response to a link that Social Insurance office sends upon submitting the maternity allowance application or in paper (Maternity Allowance Declaration) in case of asylum seekers.
EXTENSION OF MATERNITY LEAVE (PARENTAL LEAVE)
The beneficiary of maternity allowance has the right to apply for parental leave (γονική άδεια) and for parental leave allowance. These are different rights from the maternity leave/allowance and they can both be claimed after the expiration of the maternity leave period.
The right to parental leave is in total 18 weeks (or 23 weeks in the cases of single parents/children with disability). However, per year, the beneficiary can take up to 5 weeks of leave.
The employee has the right to request the leave to be taken in a flexible manner. For example, working 3 days a week and staying home 2, or working 6 hours/day instead of 8.
Please note that:
- The mother must inform the employer 3 weeks before the beginning of the parental leave, unless the employer agrees to accommodate the request earlier.
- The employer is obliged to allow the parental leave, but has the right to postpone it for up to 2 months. He/she also has the right to deny the flexible arrangements. So a formal request from the beneficiary to her employer defining the duration of the leave/arrangements, and a clear discussion is critical for smooth progress.
To claim the parental leave, the beneficiary must have worked for at least 6 months with the same employer.
To claim the parental leave allowance, the beneficiary must also have been working, for at least 12 months within the last 2 years, prior to the start of the asked parental leave.
When leave is granted the employee must apply to Social Insurance Services for the allowance. The application (Parental Allowance) can be submitted via CY Login gov.cy or – for asylum seekers – in paper. The application must be accompanied by the Employer Declaration.
CHILD BIRTH GRANT
Once the child is born, the mother may proceed with an application for birth grant, which is a one-off lump sum payment for the birth of a child.
- For first child: €1,000, second child: €1,500, third child: €2,000, fourth and subsequent children: €2,500
- The application (Child Grant Application) must be submitted within 12 months of child’s birth. It must accompanied by the mother’s IBAN and the child’s birth certificate.
The application must be submitted online via CY Login or – in case of asylum seekers – in paper to Social Insurance office.
CHILD BIRTH GRANT FOR UNMARRIED MOTHERS
Unmarried mothers whose applications for maternity allowance have been rejected (e.g. because their social insurance contributions were too low) may submit an application for Child Birth Grant for Unmarried Mothers.
The applicant cannot be married and must reside in Cyprus for 12 months prior to delivery.
The application(Application for Child Grant for Unmarried Mothers) must be submitted within 12 months of child’s birth. It must accompanied by the mother’s IBAN and the relevant form (Bank Account Details) , the child’s birth certificate and an affidavit confirming unmarried status and illegibility for maternity allowance and child grant.