Maternity Allowance
Maternity allowance is the most significant financial component around a birth: a payment from Bituach Leumi that replaces your salary while you are at home with the baby. Unlike the birth grant, which is a small one-off payment, maternity allowance can amount to tens of thousands of shekels — which is why it is worth understanding exactly who qualifies, for how long, and for how much.
Disclosure: Educational information only. This is not advice. Amounts and conditions are updated — verify with the National Insurance Institute. Any action you take is your own responsibility.
What maternity allowance is
Maternity allowance is a payment from the National Insurance Institute compensating a parent who worked before the birth, whether employed or self-employed, for income lost during maternity leave. In other words, it is your salary from the state during the leave. It is funded from the National Insurance contributions deducted from wages across your working years.
Who qualifies
Entitlement depends on the period of National Insurance contributions before the birth, known as the qualifying period:
15 full weeks — if contributions were paid for 10 of the 14 months before work ceased, or 15 of the 22 months.
8 partial weeks — if contributions were paid for only 6 of the 14 months.
The more months of work and contribution you accumulated, the longer the entitlement period.
How much you receive
Maternity allowance is calculated from the average salary in the quarter, meaning the three months, preceding the cessation of work, divided by 90 — giving the daily maternity allowance. It is paid for every day in the entitlement period.
An important point: a ceiling applies. As of 2026 the maximum salary for the calculation is 1,752.33 ₪ per day, meaning anyone earning up to roughly 52,570 ₪ gross per month receives maternity allowance at their full salary, and above that the payment is capped.
Income tax, National Insurance contributions and health tax are deducted from maternity allowance, as from ordinary salary. For a precise calculation, use the National Insurance Institute's official simulator.
Maternity allowance for the self-employed
A common error is assuming maternity allowance is only for employees. A self-employed woman is also entitled, provided she met the National Insurance contribution conditions. The calculation is based on reported income.
If you are self-employed, do not skip the check. See also self-employed. Unlike an employee, who usually receives it semi-automatically, a self-employed woman generally must submit a claim on her own initiative.
The father's entitlement
Fathers can also receive maternity allowance: a partner may replace the mother for part of the period, usually from the seventh week, and receive maternity allowance for those days, or take a short period of leave alongside her. This is an entitlement many families never use.
How to claim
Employees: the employer usually reports the cessation of work, and the claim is handled on the basis of that report.
Self-employed and special cases: submit an online claim to Bituach Leumi.
In every case, confirm your bank details are up to date and track that the payment actually arrives.
Common mistakes
1. A self-employed woman not submitting a claim — forfeiting a significant sum.
2. Not checking full versus partial entitlement, which depends on the qualifying months.
3. Not using the father's entitlement to maternity allowance.
4. Forgetting the tax refund. A year including maternity leave, especially where there was also an unpaid period, is usually a year with an entitlement to a tax refund.
Summary
Maternity allowance is a significant entitlement, sometimes worth tens of thousands of shekels. Employees usually receive it almost automatically, but the self-employed must submit a claim. Check your entitlement, use the father's right, and remember to check for a tax refund at the end of the year.
See the full picture of parental entitlements in the parental rights guide, and further entitlements in the benefits section. We provide the knowledge — the claiming is in your hands.