Maternity Benefit

Discover your benefits at the Social Security Board. 

Discover Benefits
Sickness
Maternity
Age
Employment Injury
Invalidity
Funeral
Survivors

DOWNLOAD BENEFIT BOOKLET

What is Maternity Benefit

Maternity Benefit is paid to a woman who is off from work due to pregnancy or who has given birth. 

Maternity Benefity consists of:

  1. An Allowance
  2. Grant(s)

Maternity Allowance

Maternity Allowance is paid to a woman for up to 13 weeks, while she is off work immediately before and after her confinement. To qualify for Maternity Allowance, the woman must: 

  1. have been insures for at least 26 weeks (6 months) and
  2. have contributed for at least 20 out of the 39 contribution weeks immediately before the baby is due.
The rate of Maternity Allowance is 66 2/3% of the average insurable earnings in the 39 contribution weeks. 

Maternity Grant(s)

A Maternity Grant is a one-time payment to assist with the general expenses of having a baby. It is paid to the woman if either she and/or the qualifying father* has paid 26 weeks of contributions. 

The amount of Maternity Grant per child is:

  1. $300.00 on the strength of the qualifying mother and/or
  2. $300.00 on the strength of the qualifying father*
*Note: A qualifying father is the husband or a single man living in the same household with a woman for at least  2 years (proof is required). 

How to Claim for Maternity Benefit

To claim for Maternity Allowance, submit the: 

  1. Medical Certificate of Expected Confinement (once the woman has stopped working, the doctor will fill out this form)
  2. Certificate of Confinement (once the baby is born, the doctor will fill out this form)
  3. Maternity Expense Form (necessary only if the birth took place at the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital)
Submit your claims form to the Social Security Board office not earlier than six (6) weeks before the expected delivery date but not later than four (4) weeks after the delivery.  

Reminders

Maternity Allowance will cease if the woman returns to work before the end of the 13 weeks benefit period. Even if the woman is not entitled to Maternity Allowance, she will be entitled to a Maternity Grant if she and/or the qualifying father has paid at least 26 contributions (6 months).

Note

Claim for Maternity Benefit no earlier than 6 weeks before the expected delivery date but not later than 4 weeks after the delivery. Insured persons who have met the qualifying contributions conditions will receive Maternity Benefit wherever in the word they are.