The monthly child benefit provided by the government can be asked for not only by the socially insured mother. The father, grandfather, grandmother or another relative can also apply for it if they care for the child and meet the conditions concerning the length of service and are on leave to look after the child.
In a response to an inquiry made by IPN News Agency, the National House of Social Insurance says that if one of the parents is out of work, he/she can ask for monthly child benefit that is paid up to the child’s age of one year and a half. Or, one of the insured persons – the working parent, the grandfather or grandmother who cares for the child - can apply for monthly child benefit paid up to the child’s age of three on condition that they are on leave to look after the child and had paid social contributions to the state during a required period.
According to the situation on January 1, 2015, the monthly benefit up to the child’s age of three is paid to 39,574 persons, 32,117 of whom are mothers, 1,228 are fathers, 239 are grandmothers, while 15 are grandfathers.
The single childbirth allowance is paid to the mother or, if she dies, to the child’s legal representative. This allowance, both for socially insured persons and socially uninsured persons, is 3,100 lei at the birth of the first child and 3,400 lei at the birth of each next child.
As regards the employment and support allowance for temporary incapacity for work and other social benefits, the insured persons, wives maintained by insured husbands and women out of work registered with medical-sanitary institutions of Moldova, who have the right to maternity leave that includes the paternity leave and postnatal leave, benefit from maternity pay. The insured women have the right to statutory maternity pay regardless of their length of service.
The maternity allowance is paid to the wife maintained by the insured husband if she didn’t work during nine consecutive months preceding the month when the maternity leave is granted and if she confirms that she is the employed man’s wife by presenting the identity card or the marriage certificate.
According to the National House of Social Insurance, 17,243 persons received maternity pay in 2014.
