Maternity Allowance - Benefit rates

The maternity allowance is paid in one payment in the middle of the maternity leave, into the bank account of the entitled mother.
The maternity allowance is a wage-replacing benefit but it is limited to the maximum income for payment of insurance contributions to a salaried employee and a self-employed worker in the month that preceded the date on which the expectant mother stopped working,. The maximum daily maternity allowance benefit is NIS 1,412.50 (as of 01.01.2012) .

a. For a salaried employee or a self-employed worker -­ Under the law, the daily maternity allowance is calculated according to the new mother's full salary or income as a self-employed worker in the three months that preceded the first of the month in which she stopped working, divided by 90, but no more than the maximum daily maternity allowance.

b.  For a woman who is both a salaried employee and self-employed ­- The maternity allowance is paid according to her two incomes, as stated in paragraph (a) above, but no more than the maximum daily maternity allowance, provided that she accumulated a separate period of entitlement from her self-employment.

c. A woman who was in vocational training or vocational rehabilitation during the three months that preceded the first of the month in which she stopped working (as a salaried employee or a self-employed worker) will receive the maternity allowance as follows:
         For the time that she was a salaried employee or a self-employed worker  - Under the law, the daily maternity allowance is calculated according to the new mother's full salary or income as a self-employed worker in the three months that preceded the first of the month in which she stopped working, divided by 90, but no more than the maximum daily maternity allowance.
         For the time that she was in vocational training or vocational rehabilitation - according to her income on which the insurance contributions were calculated, i.e., according to 50% of the average wage, which is NIS 8,619 (as of 01.01.2012) .

Cost-of-living increments that are paid when the maternity allowance is paid are included in the maternity allowance.