Maternity Benefit and Parental Allowance in Czechia 2026: CZK 350,000, 28 Weeks
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Czech parents get two main benefits: maternity benefit (peněžitá pomoc v mateřství, PPM), which pays 70% of your reduced daily earnings for 28 weeks, and parental allowance (rodičovský příspěvek), a total of CZK 350,000 per child that you draw until the child turns three. Maternity benefit requires at least 270 days of sickness insurance in the two years before it starts; parental allowance does not.
Around Prague checked the 2026 amounts and limits against ČSSZ data and benefit guides on 21 October 2026.
The benefits at a glance
| Benefit | Who pays | How much | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity benefit (PPM) | ČSSZ | 70% of the reduced daily base; up to about CZK 1,886 a day in 2026 | 28 weeks (37 for twins or more), starting 6–8 weeks before the due date |
| Paternity benefit (otcovská) | ČSSZ | 70% of the reduced daily base | 2 weeks, taken within 6 weeks of the birth |
| Parental allowance | Labour Office (Úřad práce) | CZK 350,000 in total (CZK 700,000 for twins or more since 2026) | Until the child turns 3, at the monthly pace you choose |
For children born before 2024, the parental allowance total is CZK 300,000.
Maternity benefit: example
With a gross salary of CZK 48,967 (the 2026 average wage), the reduced daily base is about CZK 1,449, so maternity benefit is about CZK 1,014 a day, roughly CZK 30,400 for a 30-day month. The highest possible benefit in 2026 is about CZK 56,600 a month. It is calculated with the same 2026 limits as sick pay (CZK 1,633, 2,449 and 4,897).
Fathers can also take maternity benefit after the mother's first six weeks if the parents agree to swap.
Parental allowance: how it works
- When it starts: after maternity benefit ends, or from the birth if neither parent is entitled to maternity benefit.
- Choosing the monthly amount: if your earnings are known from maternity benefit, you choose how much to draw each month (up to a limit based on your earnings) and can change it every three months. Without that, the allowance is paid at fixed lower monthly rates.
- Working and nursery: you can work while receiving the allowance. A child under 2 may attend a nursery or kindergarten for up to 92 hours a month.
- Applying: at the Labour Office, online or in person.
Foreigners
Maternity and paternity benefit depend on Czech sickness insurance, so employees (and self-employed people who pay voluntary sickness insurance) qualify regardless of citizenship. Parental allowance is a state benefit tied to residence in Czechia; permanent residents, EU citizens and people with long-term residence usually qualify, but check your status with the Labour Office.
Preparing for the birth? See our guide to giving birth in Czechia as a foreigner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long is maternity leave in Czechia?
Maternity benefit is paid for 28 weeks (37 for twins or more). After that, parents can stay on parental leave until the child turns 3 and receive parental allowance.
How much is parental allowance in 2026?
CZK 350,000 in total per child (CZK 700,000 for twins or more), drawn until the child's third birthday.
Who qualifies for maternity benefit?
Anyone with at least 270 days of Czech sickness insurance in the last two years, usually through employment.
Can fathers get benefits?
Yes: two weeks of paternity benefit, and fathers can also take over maternity benefit or draw parental allowance.
Around Prague, based on ČSSZ, Skrblík, Finance.cz
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