Birth leave (formerly paternity leave)
Fathers and co-parents who work as employees or self-employed persons are also entitled to birth leave. In everyday language, birth leave is still commonly referred to as paternity leave.
If you are self-employed, you must apply for birth leave through the social insurance fund with which you are affiliated. If you are an employee and meet the conditions, read here how to apply for birth leave. Unemployed persons are not eligible for birth leave.
Applying for birth leave and birth allowance as an employee
As an employee, you apply for leave from your employer; you receive your allowance from Helan. Below, we explain exactly how to go about this.
If you are listed as the father or co-parent on the birth certificate, a copy of the birth certificate is sufficient to apply for birth leave.
Log in to My Helan and follow the steps to apply for your birth leave.
You will receive the birth certificate from the civil registry office of your municipality when you register the birth.
Based on this document, we will start your birth leave, register your baby with Helan, and provide adhesive stamps in your child’s name.
Send us a copy of the birth certificate (you should keep the original document):
- Digitally; no sticker is required, as we identify your document through your login.
- By post to Helan Onafhankelijk ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk, including a white adhesive stamp. Or deposit it in a Helan mailbox near you.
Through My Helan, you can complete your information form yourself. Do this as soon as possible so we can process your file more quickly. Based on the information provided in your information form, we calculate the amount of your allowance.
As soon as your birth leave starts, Helan will contact your employer to obtain an “allowance information form” (inlichtingenblad uitkeringen).
We check whether you are entitled to an allowance for birth leave as a replacement for your salary. If your file is complete, you will receive a letter stating the exact daily amount, and we will start the monthly payments. The amount of this payment will vary each month, depending on the number of days taken in that month. We base this on the information we receive from your employer each time.
The first three days you receive your normal salary from your employer. The following 17 days you receive an allowance from Helan. This amounts to 82% of the capped gross salary.
The calculation and payment can only be made after receipt of both allowance information forms and the birth certificate.
Your employer can provide us monthly with a benefit information form stating the days taken. A monthly payment of the allowance is therefore possible.
Applying for birth leave and birth allowance as a self-employed person
Self-employed fathers and co-parents are also entitled to birth leave. However, the application procedure is different. Self-employed persons must apply for their birth leave and allowance through their social insurance fund, and this must be done before the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the child is born.
Duration of birth leave
- Self-employed persons and employed fathers and co-parents are entitled to 20 days of birth leave, to be taken within 4 months after the birth.
- Employees receive their normal salary from their employer for the first 3 days.
- The following 17 days are paid by Helan.
- Unemployed persons are not eligible for birth leave.
Amount of birth leave allowance
The benefit for birth leave depends on your status:
- If you are self-employed, the allowance linked to birth leave amounts to 103.53 euros per leave day or 2,070.60 euros for 20 full days. Your allowance is paid through your social insurance fund.
- The allowance received by employees amounts to 82% of their average daily wage (subject to a cap). In this case, the allowance is paid through Helan.
- Unemployed persons are not eligible for birth leave and therefore receive no allowance.
Terms and conditions birth leave
- You meet one of the following conditions:
- You are the father or co-parent of the child, as stated on the recognition and/or birth certificate.
- You are married to the mother.
- You are legally cohabiting with the mother.
- You have been living with the mother of the baby for at least 3 years.
- You have an employment contract or are self-employed (for conditions, see your social insurance fund).
- You take the birth leave within 4 months from the day of the birth. You can choose to take it all at once or spread it out, and either fully or partially.
Good to know
As a father or co-parent, you are entitled to 20 days of birth leave, but you are not required to take all of your days.
The allowance for your birth leave is paid out monthly.
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Frequently asked questions about birth leave
Birth leave is the new name for what was formerly known as paternity leave.
The allowance for birth leave depends on your status. If you are self-employed, you should contact your social insurance fund.
Employees receive their normal salary from their employer for the first 3 days. The following 17 days are paid by Helan. The allowance for this amounts to 82% of the capped gross salary.
- Employees submit their application via My Helan.
- Self-employed persons must submit their application to their social insurance fund.
In both cases, this must be done in time in order to be entitled to an allowance.
- For employees, the payment of the birth leave allowance is made monthly. This is paid by Helan.
- Self-employed persons receive their birth leave allowance through the social insurance fund they are affiliated with. Please note that processing may take several weeks.
Fathers and co-parents are entitled to 20 days of birth leave.
No, even with twins, you are entitled to a maximum of 20 days of birth leave. You do not receive any extra days.
Fathers and co-parents can choose how to take their birth leave: all at once or spread out, and either fully or partially. It is important that you take the leave within four months after the birth. Discuss the planning with your employer and provide them with all documents in time.
This allowance is a taxable replacement income. You must therefore declare it in your tax return. A 11.11% withholding tax is also deducted from the allowance.
First check whether you have submitted all documents correctly and completely. If you are an employee, it is best to contact Helan for an update on the status. Self-employed persons should contact their social insurance fund to follow up on their request.
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