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Maternity benefit; application to the Federal Social Security Office

As an expectant mother, you can apply for maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office (BAS) for the period of protection before and after childbirth and for the day of childbirth. You must meet certain requirements for this.

Online services & Forms

Online services

  • Antrag auf Mutterschaftsgeld auf der Internetseite des Bundesamts für Soziale Sicherung

    Das auf der Internetseite des Bundesamts für Soziale Sicherung herunterzuladende Formular können Sie ausfüllen, unterschreiben und mit den anderen Unterlagen (Bescheinigung über eine Beschäftigung, Zeugnis über den voraussichtlichen Entbindungstermin) mit einem der Versandformate dem BAS zusenden.

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Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung

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Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 38
53113 Bonn

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53113 Bonn

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Procedure details

During your protection periods before and after the birth and for the day of delivery, you can apply for maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office (BAS), provided you are not a member of a statutory health insurance fund and meet the other requirements. This applies, for example, if you have family or private health insurance. This also applies if you work in a marginal employment relationship, i.e. a mini-job. The maternity protection periods usually begin 6 weeks before the birth and end 8 to 12 weeks afterwards.

The maximum amount of maternity benefit payable is EUR 13 per day. However, the maternity benefit paid by the Federal Social Security Office (BAS) is limited by law to EUR 210. The maternity benefit from the BAS is calculated on a calendar day basis in the same way as for health insurance. The amount is calculated from your net salary, i.e. your average daily income for the last 3 months before the start of your protection period after statutory deductions.

You can apply for maternity benefit from the Federal Social Security Office if

  • You are expecting a baby or have already had a baby.
  • you are not a member of a statutory health insurance fund (e.g. privately insured or family-insured in a statutory health insurance fund). If you are exclusively self-employed, freelance or work on a fee basis, you are not entitled.
  • you are in an employment relationship (e.g. mini-job),
    • in which you do not receive any pay due to the maternity protection periods or
    • your employer has terminated the employment relationship during your pregnancy or the protection period after the birth with the consent of the competent authority.
  • Your employment relationship
    • not by mutual agreement or
    • ended before the start of the protection period due to a time limit.
  • you are a civil servant with private health insurance and have a part-time job that constitutes employment.

You will not receive maternity benefit if

  • you receive pay during the statutory maternity protection period due to full continued employment or vacation pay. Your entitlement is suspended during this period.
  • your employment relationship ended by mutual agreement or due to a time limit before the start of the protection period.
  • you are a housewife.
  • You are only a civil servant. In this case, you will continue to receive your salary.
  • You are exclusively self-employed, freelance or work on a fee basis.
  • You are a student without an additional (also marginal) employment relationship.
  • You are a managing director or an associate managing director who has a significant influence on company decisions due to your shareholding (at least 50% of the shares in the company or a so-called genuine blocking minority).
  • you are on unpaid special leave/leave that ends after the protection periods and have not entered into any other active employment relationship during the leave.
  • You are on parental leave that does not end until after the protection period for the expected child and are not employed part-time during the parental leave.
  • you are an adoptive mother.

  • Required document/s

    To apply to the Federal Social Security Office, you will need

    • Certificate from the doctor or midwife about the calculated date of birth, the so-called MET certificate or the so-called sample 3.
    • Certificate of employment.
    • After the birth: birth certificate or proof of birth of your baby; in the case of a premature birth or a disability of the child, the medical certificate of premature birth or disability of the child must also be submitted, so-called model 9.
    • Further documents may be required in individual cases. Please contact the Federal Social Security Office for more information.
    • Completed application form.

You can apply for maternity benefit online at the Federal Social Security Office (BAS):

  • Access the online application for maternity benefit on the website of the Federal Social Security Office.
  • Log in with your BundID account to enable all communication digitally, or select guest access.
  • Complete the form in full.
  • Upload the required documents.
  • After submitting the application, you have the option of printing out your application for your records.
  • The online application is valid without a signature. You therefore do not need to submit your application or printout by post.
  • BAS will check your application.
  • You can check the status of your application online at any time.
  • If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive a written confirmation and the maternity benefit will be paid out.

Alternatively, you can also apply for maternity benefit in writing to the BAS:

  • Go to the BAS website.
  • Download the application form.
  • Complete the form in full, sign it and send it to the BAS by post with all the necessary documents.
    Please note: BAS only archives the documents you submit in electronic form and destroys the originals. You will therefore not receive the originals back. However, you can obtain a certified copy from BAS if required.
  • The BAS will check your application and send you a confirmation of receipt by post as soon as possible.
  • You can check the status of your application online at any time.

There are no costs.

If possible, you should apply for maternity benefit at the beginning of your maternity protection period. However, you can also submit the application after the birth of your child. However, a limitation period applies in this case. This begins at the end of the year in which your protection period began, i.e. on January 1 of the following year. It ends 4 years after this year on 31.12.

2 to 6 weeks

Depending on your insurance status and professional situation, you can also apply for maternity benefit from your statutory health insurance fund.

  • Objection
    • Detailed information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification of your application
  • Social court action

Status: 15.07.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit
Source: Federal Portal
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