Maternity during unemployment

Maternity allowance instead of unemployment benefits

Immediately after the birth, your current daily unemployment benefit starts to be suspended. The unemployment file will be cancelled.

Daily unemployment benefits are replaced by maternity allowance. You must apply in order to receive your allowance.

Maternity allowance are paid for 98 days (or longer if your canton of residence provides higher benefits than the federal insurance program). During this period, you are primarily considered a mother. The reason: unemployed mothers should not be placed in a worse position than employed mothers. 

Application for maternity allowance

Maternity allowance is not paid automatically. This means that you have to submit a new application. This time with the AHV compensation office.

You can fill in the application «Maternity Allowance Application Form» online on the AHV-IV information portal. Alternatively, you can print out the form there and send it by post.

After the maternity allowance has expired, the entitlement to daily unemployment benefit is revived. This requires a new registration with the unemployment office.

Amount of maternity allowance

The maternity allowance is never lower than the previous daily allowance.

But be careful: unpaid leave before the birth can have a negative effect on the amount of maternity benefit.