🇩🇪 Germany

Mutterschaftsgeld

Maternity Benefit

Easy ~10 min MaternityPregnancyBenefits

/ What is this form?

Mutterschaftsgeld is paid during the Mutterschutzfrist — 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth (12 weeks for premature or multiple births). Your Krankenkasse pays up to €13/day and your employer tops up to your full net salary.

The benefit is separate from Elterngeld, which starts after the Mutterschutz ends. Most new mothers receive both consecutively. Self-employed women with voluntary statutory health insurance also qualify.

Women with private health insurance are not eligible for Krankenkasse Mutterschaftsgeld but can apply for a one-time payment of up to €210 from the Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung.

/ Who needs this form?

Employed pregnant women with statutory health insurance
Self-employed women with voluntary statutory insurance
Women who were employees but lost their job during pregnancy

/ What you need before you start

Certificate from doctor or midwife with expected due date (ärztliches Zeugnis)

Employment confirmation from your employer

Health insurance membership details

Bank account IBAN

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Get Doctor's Certificate

Obtain a certificate from your doctor or midwife stating your expected due date (Voraussichtlicher Entbindungstermin).

2 Notify Employer

Inform your employer of the pregnancy and expected due date. The Mutterschutz begins 6 weeks before the due date.

3 Apply to Krankenkasse

Submit the application to your statutory health insurer (Krankenkasse) with the medical certificate.

4 Employer Top-Up

Your employer is legally required to top up the benefit to your full net salary — this happens automatically.

/ Key fields explained

Field	What to enter	Common mistake
Voraussichtlicher Entbindungstermin	The expected due date as certified by your doctor or midwife.	Self-certifying — the date must be on an official medical certificate.
Arbeitgeber (Employer)	Name and address of your employer — they will be informed and required to top up the benefit.	Forgetting to also notify your employer directly.

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Applying too late — apply at least 7 weeks before the due date.

Confusing Mutterschaftsgeld with Elterngeld — these are separate benefits applied for separately.

Not telling your employer about the pregnancy — this triggers their legal obligations.

/ Frequently asked questions

How much is Mutterschaftsgeld?

Up to €13/day from your Krankenkasse (statutory health insurer). Your employer tops up to your full average net daily wage — so you receive 100% of your usual salary.