The socially insured person who confirms the required insurance period (3 years in total or at least nine months during 24 months prior to the birth of the child) and who is on childcare leave can use one of the options for receiving monthly child benefit. The calculation basis is the average monthly income for the 12 calendar months preceding the month of birth of the child from which social insurance contributions had been paid by the date the benefit is set. The calendar months of the prenatal leave are substituted with the same number of calendar months coming before the period covered by the calculations, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the National House of Social insurance (CNAS).

Monthly child benefit is provided for the period between the day childcare leave is set and up to the child’s age of three, in the amount of 30% of the calculation basis for each child, but not less than the minimum monthly child benefit paid to an insured person (740 lei).

Or the benefit can be provided up to the child’s age of two years and two months in the amount of 60% of the calculation basis for each child until the child turns one year, but not less than the double size of the minimum monthly child benefit paid to an insured person (1,480 lei). For the period remaining until the age of two years and two months, the child benefit will represent 30% of the calculation basis for each child, but not less than the minimum monthly child benefit paid to an insured person (740 lei).

If the insured person during the 12 calendar months prior to the month the insured risk occurs does not have insured income because of maternity leave or childcare leave to look after a child up to the age of three, the monthly child benefit is set according to the calculation basis used to calculate the benefit for the previous child, also if the person received particular lump sums in the period.

In the absence of the calculation basis for setting the child benefit up to the child’s age of three years, the benefit represents the minimum monthly child benefit paid to an insured person (740 lei).