Changes in the system of parental benefits and childcare leave
As of April 1st 2022, several changes have taken effect in the system of parental benefit and the child care leave, which aim is to make the life of families with children easier and more flexible.
Earlier the effective order was family-based according to which both parents together had 3 or 6 days off a year depending on the age of the child. The unused holiday days expired at the turn of the year. According to the new child-based system both parents have a personal calculation system of the childcare leave.
Further on both parents have an individual childcare leave of 10 days per child until the child becomes 14 years old. This makes the childcare leave more flexible for the parents and provides an individual approach – as of April 1st both parents have their childcare leave days, which can be used irrespective of the other parent. This way the parents can plan the childcare leave days also at the same time.
It is important to pay attention that the days of the of the childcare leave would not expire, and be valid until the end of the calendar year until the child becomes 14 years old. Parents have the right to choose when to use the days of the childcare leave and divide them within 14 years, e.g. use them when the child goes to the kindergarten or school and needs more parental support.
Besides also the calculation of the monthly parental benefit has changed. Up to now the benefit was paid in one and the same sum. As of April 1st, the parental benefit is paid according to the daily rate of the parental benefit. For the person receiving the benefit the change means that in different months the benefit may be different, depending on the number of days in the month.
The use of parents’ holiday days is also made easier. All parental benefits and childcare leaves are concentrated in one place. If until now, in order to get parental benefit, a parent had to communicate with the Health Insurance Fund and the Estonian National Social Insurance Board, then after April 1st, the national benefits system is concentrated in the Estonian National Social Insurance Board.
More information about new effective changes can be found on the homepage of the Estonian National Social Insurance Board sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee.
Foto: Alexander Dummer
