Skip to main content

Removal from work during pregnancy

Are you pregnant and do you notice that your working environment involves risks for you or your baby? If so, you may be eligible for removal from work during pregnancy. This temporary measure protects you and your baby from hazardous tasks or substances and allows you to stop working fully or partially as long as the risk remains.

On this page

Types of removal from work

Work suspension during pregnancy

Are you pregnant and does your work situation involve health risks for you and your unborn child? If so, you can apply for work suspension and temporarily stop working.

  • The duration of your removal depends on the nature of your work, the collective labour agreement or the workplace regulations.
  • Work suspension due to pregnancy is limited to the duration of the pregnancy and continues as long as the risk exists.
  • In the event of pregnancy loss or the end of your contract, the removal from work also ends.
  • As you are unable to work, you receive an allowance equal to 78.23% of your average daily wage (subject to a cap).

Partial removal from work during pregnancy

Are you pregnant and do you perform different types of tasks for one employer, do you have multiple employers, or are you self-employed as a secondary occupation in addition to your salaried job? Then you may temporarily stop part of your tasks or one of your jobs through partial work suspension.

  • You have 2 employers: your tasks are suspended with 1 employer, while you continue working for the other.
  • You have 1 employer, but perform 2 types of tasks. Only 1 of these tasks is suspended.
  • You stop working for 1 employer, while continuing your self-employed secondary occupation.

Removal from work while breastfeeding

In some cases, you cannot return to work while breastfeeding, because certain tasks may be dangerous for your baby’s health. In this case, you can apply for work suspension.

With regular breastfeeding leave, you are not entitled to an allowance, but you are in the case of removal from work due to breastfeeding.

Important to know:

  • Removal from work due to breastfeeding can last a maximum of 5 months, starting from the day of childbirth.
  • Your removal due to breastfeeding does not have to start immediately after your maternity leave.
  • As you are unable to work, you receive an allowance equal to 60% of your average daily wage (subject to a cap).

Applying for (partial) removal from work during your pregnancy

Notify Helan of your (partial) removal from work during pregnancy

  1. Log in to My Helan
  2. Choose the section Incapacity for work and allowances
  3. Click on Incapacity for work or baby on the way
  4. Complete the step-by-step module

To start a file for (partial) removal from work during pregnancy, you need to arrange 3 things:

  • Ask the occupational physician to complete a health assessment and provide it to you or your employer.
  • Your occupational physician will also provide you or your employer with an application for removal from work during pregnancy. Your employer must complete this form.
  • Also ask your GP or gynaecologist for a medical certificate stating:
    • the expected due date
    • whether or not it concerns a multiple pregnancy

Send us these 3 forms:

  • digitally
  • or by post to Helan ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.

Did the occupational physician not provide you with a form for your employer to complete? Then have your employer complete this form. Submit it to Helan together with the health assessment and the medical certificate.

Via My Helan, you can complete your information form yourself.

  • Do this as soon as you have reported your (partial) removal from work during pregnancy to Helan. This allows us to process your file more quickly.
  • Based on the information in your information form, we calculate the amount of your allowance.

As soon as the removal from work due to your pregnancy starts, Helan will contact your employer to obtain a benefits information form.

We check whether you are entitled to an allowance replacing your salary. If your file is complete, you will receive a letter stating the exact daily amount, and we will start the payment.

Apply for removal from work while breastfeeding

Have these forms completed by your occupational health doctor and your employer

  • Ask the occupational health doctor to complete a health assessment for you.
  • Your occupational health doctor will also provide you or your employer with an application for removal from work while breastfeeding. Your employer must complete this form. This may also be a health assessment that was already drawn up during your pregnancy.

Did the occupational health doctor not provide you with a form for your employer to complete? Then have your employer complete this form. Submit it to Helan together with the health assessment and the medical certificate.

Send us these 2 forms:

  • digitally
  • or by post to Helan ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.

Apply to continue self-employed work during removal from work

Would you like to temporarily stop your salaried job through removal from work, but continue working as a self-employed person on a part-time basis? If so, please apply to Helan.

Fill in the application form

You can find the application form here.

Send Helan a (photo of the) completed form:

  • digitally
  • or by post to Helan ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.

Do this within one month after the start of the removal from work.

Conditions for removal from work during and after your pregnancy

Full removal from work

  • You are bound by an employment contract.
  • You perform hazardous tasks or come into contact with hazardous substances in your working environment.
  • The occupational physician decides that you are no longer allowed to work in your working environment.
  • You work in an environment where your employer cannot offer alternative duties.

Partial removal from work

  • You can only receive partial removal from work for one of your two employers.
  • Or you request partial removal from work for one of your two professional activities.
  • You cannot receive partial removal from work for your self-employed activity, only for your activity as an employee.

Returning to work after removal from work during pregnancy

  • Have your employer complete a certificate of return to work.
  • Submit this certificate to Helan no later than 8 calendar days after the end of the removal from work:
    • digitally
    • or by post: Helan ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.

What is the difference between removal from work and incapacity for work during pregnancy?

Removal from work during pregnancy is not the same as incapacity for work. In both cases, you are entitled to an allowance, but the amount and the paying party differ.

Removal from work during pregnancy

When your working environment involves risks for your health or your baby’s health, the occupational physician may decide that you can no longer perform your job (temporarily). In case of full removal from work, you receive an allowance from Helan of 78.23% of your average daily wage (subject to a cap). This allowance continues until the last week before your expected due date, after which maternity leave starts.

Incapacity for work during pregnancy

When you become incapacitated for work during your pregnancy, you are physically or mentally unable to work. The cause is your health condition, not your working environment. Incapacity for work is determined by your own (general) practitioner. Any incapacity for work up to 6 weeks before the optional prenatal leave entitles you to the normal guaranteed salary paid by your employer.

Consultation with a pregnancy advisor

What are you entitled to as a new parent? And how do you apply for the right support? The Helan pregnancy advisor will guide you through the wonderful world of pregnancy.

Book your consultation

More about leave arrangements

Maternity leave as an employee or unemployed person
Birth leave
Adoption leave
Maternity leave as a self-employed person
Parental leave
Foster parent leave

Discover everything about pregnancy

Also check the central file: everything about pregnancy.

Maternity care

Need an extra pair of helping hands? Helan Maternity Care supports new parents. You can count on us for care, follow-up and advice. Request your maternity care easily today.

Request your household help

Busy home life? Helan’s well-trained household helpers are happy to take some tasks off your hands.

Benefits and reimbursements

If you want to stay healthy and feel your best, you deserve that little bit extra. That’s why we offer a wide range of additional benefits and reimbursements, just for you.