How to claim Maternity Benefits?

The employer must pay you your maternity benefit before your delivery. ^{(( Section 6(5), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.))} For this, you have to give your employer a written notice to state your claim to the maternity benefit. Given below  is a checklist of information that should be in the notice:

• You have to state that you will not work for any other employer during the time for which  you have claimed the maternity benefit. ^{(( Section 6(1), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.))}
• You can also nominate  another person who can receive the payment on your behalf. ^{(( Section 6(1), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.))}
• In case you are pregnant, the notice should state the date from which you will be absent from work. This cannot be earlier than 6 weeks before the date of your expected delivery. ^{(( Section 6(2), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961))}
• You are required to submit proof that you are pregnant.

Claiming Benefit After Delivery

Subsequently, you can claim the maternity benefit for the period after your delivery within 48 hours of submitting proof that you have delivered the child. ¹ If you have not given the notice when you were pregnant, you can give the notice as soon as possible after your delivery. ^{(( Section 6(3), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961))}  However, just because you haven’t given a notice does not mean that you will not be able to get maternity benefits. You can make an application to the inspector and he can order that the payment be made. ^{(( Section 6(6), The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.))}

Going Back to Work

If you continue to go to work after you have been allowed to take maternity leave by your employer, then you shall have to forfeit your claim to the maternity benefit for such period. ^{(( Section 18, The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.))}