Maternity benefit (ZUS)
Benefit for an insured mother during maternity and parental leave (employment contract or self-employment with voluntary sickness insurance). Paid by ZUS — not by the employer. Mutually exclusive with the parental benefit (kosiniakowe), which is for UNINSURED persons.
Check all benefits →Who is entitled to the ZUS maternity benefit?
- Insured mothers — employment contract
- Insured mothers — self-employment with voluntary sickness insurance (contribution ≥ 90 days before birth)
- Fathers — during paternity leave (2 weeks) and tacierzyński leave (part of maternity leave when the mother resigns)
- Adoptive parents — analogous adoption leave (up to 20 weeks depending on the child's age)
IMPORTANT: mutually exclusive with the parental benefit (kosiniakowe — PLN 1,000/month for 52 weeks for the uninsured). You receive ONE of these benefits depending on your insurance status. Employees/entrepreneurs → ZUS benefit (typically higher). Students, unemployed → kosiniakowe.
How to apply?
Employee (employment contract)
The employer submits Z-3 to ZUS. You don't need to do anything yourself — the employer handles paperwork and ZUS pays.
Self-employed / contractor
You submit Z-3a to ZUS yourself + a copy of the child's birth certificate. Application via the PUE ZUS portal.
Parental leave
Maternity leave lasts 20 weeks and parental leave 32–34 weeks. The rate is 100% of the basis for maternity leave and 70% for parental leave (art. 31 sect. 1–2); with an application under art. 30a, it is 81.5% of the basis for the whole period corresponding to those leaves (art. 31 sect. 3).
Combining with work
During parental leave you may work for the same or another employer up to ½ FTE while keeping a proportional share of the benefit.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the maternity benefit in 2026?
- Either 100% of the basis for maternity leave and 70% for parental leave (art. 31 sect. 1–2), or — with an application under art. 30a — 81.5% of the basis for the whole period corresponding to maternity and parental leave (art. 31 sect. 3). Maternity leave lasts 20 weeks, parental leave 32–34 weeks, up to 52 weeks total.
- Which is better — ZUS maternity benefit or kosiniakowe?
- The ZUS benefit is HIGHER for anyone earning above ~PLN 1,200 net (since it's a % of wages). Kosiniakowe (PLN 1,000/month) is for UNINSURED persons — students, unemployed. They are mutually exclusive: you receive one OR the other.
- I'm self-employed — will I get the maternity benefit?
- Yes, if you enrolled in voluntary sickness insurance at least 90 days before birth. The basis = the average of the 12 months of declared sickness-insurance contributions. Application via PUE ZUS with form Z-3a.
- Can fathers also receive it?
- Yes. Paternity leave (2 weeks) — can be used until the child reaches 12 months. Tacierzyński leave (part of maternity) — when the mother resigns from her share after 14 weeks. Parental leave — can be shared between parents.
Check all family benefits
Besides the maternity benefit, you may be entitled to 800+, becikowe, parental leave, parental benefit. The calculator compares them all in 2 minutes.
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