If you take time off from work for childbirth

Maternity Allowance

When a female insured person takes time off from work for childbirth, she is paid two-thirds of her average standard monthly remuneration over the most recent 12-month period ÷ 30 per day off to help cover living costs during that period. This benefit is referred to as “Maternity Allowance”.

The range of acceptable reasons for taking time off work in this case is broader than for the inability to work, as defined for Injury and Sickness Allowance and it is acceptable to take time off even if you feel that you could work if you tried.

Payment period

Cases in which you are eligible to receive the Maternity Allowance and Injury and Sickness Allowance concurrently

If you are eligible to receive Maternity Allowance and Injury and Sickness Allowance concurrently, payment of the Maternity Allowance will be granted priority.

You are exempt from paying insurance premiums during maternity leave, childcare leave, or other similar leave

To reduce financial burdens while taking childcare or similar leave (including paternity leave [newborn care leave]), Health Insurance Societies exempt insured persons and their　employers from the payment of insurance premiums during the period of such leave in cases where employers have applied for such exemption. This exemption applies from the month in which the leave starts through the month immediately preceding the month that includes the day following the end of the leave.
However, if the month that includes the day on which childcare or similar leave starts is the same as the month that includes the day following the end of the leave, insurance premiums are waived for the month if the number of days of such leave is 14 days or longer.
Insurance premiums on bonuses are waived only if childcare or similar leave has been taken for a continuous period of longer than one month that includes the last day of the month in which the bonus was paid.
Employers can also apply on behalf of their employees for exemptions from the requirement to pay insurance premiums during the period of maternity leave.

• ** Period of childcare or similar leave: the period of childcare leave or similar leave that conforms to the system of childcare leave, up to the child's third birthday at the latest.
• ** Period of maternity leave: Period during which you did not work due to pregnancy or childbirth, within the period starting 42 days before birth (98 days for multiple births) and ending 56 days after birth
• ** Paternity leave (newborn care leave): A system under which eligible persons may take leave for up to four weeks during the eight-week period after the birth of a child. This leave may be taken separately from childcare leave.

• Click here for procedures.