From April 1, the monthly childcare allowance paid until the child turns three will be released to the mother, the farther or relatives who look after the child, at request.

Contacted by IPN, Natalia Varlan, deputy head of the General Social Benefit Division of the National Office of Social Insurance, said the provisions apply only to persons who pay contributions into the state social insurance budget and took leave for looking after the child. The grandparents who are pensioners are not eligible.

Under other amendments made to the legislation, the maternity allowance for women pregnant with three and more children is paid for a period that is by 42 calendar days longer for the prenatal leave (from 70 days at present to 112 days) and by 14 days longer for the postnatal leave (from 56 days at present to 70 days). Thus, for women pregnant with a child the allowance is paid fully on the 30th week of pregnancy, while for those pregnant with more children – on the 24th week.

Parents receive three types of allowances when a child is born: allowance for the prenatal and postnatal leave that is paid once for the whole period, lump-sum childbirth payment, and monthly childcare allowance paid up to the child’s age of three to socially insured person and to the age of one year and a half to socially uninsured persons. The lump-sum childbirth payment this year is 3,400 lei for insured women and 3,100 lei for the uninsured ones.