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Maternity Benefit  

An insured woman who is qualified to claim maternity benefit is entitled to maternity benefit for an additional period not exceeding one month on account of her abstention from work as a result of sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement, premature birth of child or miscarriage.

The total duration of maternity benefit for sickness arising out of pregnancy or out of confinement, premature birth of child or miscarriage will not exceed one month. If such sickness continues beyond one month, only sickness benefit, if admissible, will be payable to the insured woman subject to deduction of the initial waiting period.

Sickness arising out of pregnancy may occur at a time when it may not be possible to determine the rate of maternity benefit. In such a case, sickness benefit may be paid to the insured woman. Later, when it is possible to determine the rate of maternity benefit on the basis of date of confinement/expected confinement or miscarriage, the difference between maternity benefit actually admissible and the sickness benefit already paid, may be paid to the insured woman.

Duration of one month for sickness arising out of confinement, premature birth of child or miscarriage would be counted on termination of the normal range of 84 days for confinement and 42 days for miscarriage. After determining this duration, the number of days for which maternity benefit was paid earlier for any sickness arising out of pregnancy will be deducted and the payment of maternity benefit for sickness arising out of confinement/ miscarriage, will be admissible for the balance number of days. 

"Threatened abortion" or "incomplete abortion" if supported by proper medical certificate requiring abstention from work on medical grounds, is a condition in which maternity benefit is payable for sickness arising out of pregnancy.

Diseases like anaemia, post-confinement weakness and allied symptoms occurring immediately following confinement as post-confinement anaemia are to be deemed as sickness arising out of confinement if supported by the requisite medical certificates. There is, however, need for caution and the disease may be got confirmed through a priority incapacity reference.

An insured woman whose date of expected confinement and date of actual confinement both fall prior to commencement of her first benefit period but the spell of sickness arising out of confinement etc. starts only after the commencement of benefit period, will not be eligible for maternity benefit. In such a case, sickness benefit can be paid for the sickness arising out of confinement, etc., for the period falling in the benefit period if IW is found qualified in the relevant contribution period.