Maternity Benefits Will Be Awarded Even Without State Certificate of Confinement

Starting from January 1, 2020, a state certificate of confinement will not be required for applying for maternity benefits. Instead, maternity benefits will be determined according to the procedure established by the Government based on a temporary incapacity to work sheet provided by a medical institution.

This was approved today by the Government based on a proposal presented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Additionally, the rights of unemployed individuals whose applications for maternity benefits were rejected due to the absence of a state certificate of confinement will be restored without the need to submit a new application.

If no application has been submitted, the application for maternity benefits and the necessary documents may be submitted within a 140-day period starting from the date the decision comes into effect. Under the current regulations, according to Article 23.2, parts 2 and 3 of the Law on State Benefits, a state certificate of confinement, established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, serves as a basis for granting maternity benefits to unemployed individuals. Women who do not possess a state certificate of confinement as of the child's birth date are not entitled to maternity benefits, except in cases determined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

State certificates of confinement have been issued according to the procedure established by the order No. 761-A of the Minister of Health dated May 30, 2008. This order was revoked by the order No. 3748-A of the Minister of Health dated December 13, 2019, and since January 1, 2020, state certificates of confinement have not been issued to citizens. Moreover, confinement services are predominantly provided free of charge by the state (on the basis of exchange cards). As a result, individuals are unable to exercise their right to maternity benefits.

The solution presented and approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is temporary until relevant amendments are made to the Law on State Benefits.