Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave in Austria
Austria separates leave (time off work, protected by labour law) from money (benefits paid by your health insurance fund). The main benefits are maternity pay (Wochengeld), the father's Familienzeitbonus and the childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld). Non-Austrians need lawful residence under the settlement or asylum laws to receive the bonus and the allowance, and the family must live in Austria.
Maternity protection and Wochengeld
- Mutterschutz: expectant mothers may not work in the 8 weeks before the expected birth and the 8 weeks after it (12 weeks after premature, multiple or caesarean births). A doctor can order an earlier start for medical reasons.
- Wochengeld: paid by the health insurance fund (ÖGK for most employees) for the whole protection period. It replaces your average net pay of the last 3 months, plus a share of holiday and Christmas bonuses. Women on unemployment benefit receive their benefit plus 80%.
Fathers
- Papamonat: fathers employed in the private sector have a right to 1 month of unpaid leave, taken between the day after the birth and the end of the mother's protection period. Announce it to your employer at least 3 months before the due date.
- Familienzeitbonus: €54.87 a day (about €1,700 in total) for 28 to 31 days, for births since 1 January 2025. You need 182 days of insured work immediately before. Apply to your health insurance fund within 121 days of the birth.
Parental leave and childcare allowance
- Elternkarenz: unpaid leave until the child is 22 months old if one parent takes it, or until the 2nd birthday if the parents share it. Each part must last at least 2 months. You keep your job and are protected against dismissal.
- Elternteilzeit: reduced hours (at least 20% less, at least 12 hours a week) for up to 7 years, until the child turns 8, in firms with more than 20 staff after 3 years of employment.
- Kinderbetreuungsgeld (childcare allowance), two systems:
- Flat-rate account: you choose the length, 365 to 851 days for one parent or 456 to 1,063 days for both. The daily amount falls from €41.14 to €17.65 the longer you claim (2026). You may earn up to €18,000 a year, or 60% of your previous income if that is higher.
- Income-related: 80% of your previous earnings, up to €80.12 a day (about €2,400 a month), until the child is 1 year old, or up to 426 days if both parents claim. You need 182 days of insured work before the birth, and you may earn only up to €8,600 a year (2026).
- Part of the allowance is reserved for the second parent. If they do not use it, it is lost.
Common pitfalls for newcomers
- To keep the full childcare allowance, complete all Eltern-Kind-Pass check-ups: 5 during pregnancy and 5 for the child.
- Plan the length of the allowance carefully. Changing it later is possible only within strict limits.
- Leave and allowance are separate. Agree your Karenz dates with your employer in writing; the allowance does not do this for you.
- Earnings above the limit must be paid back.
Official guidance: ÖGK: Wochengeld, Federal Chancellery: childcare allowance, oesterreich.gv.at: Familienzeitbonus, oesterreich.gv.at: Papamonat, Social Ministry: parental leave