Starting from July, 2012, the Bureau of Labor Insurance, Council of Labor Affairs will proactively send notices and the application forms for the maternity benefits under the National Pension Program to qualified individuals that have not yet applied. The notices will be sent every six months. The purpose of this approach is to safeguard the interests of the people. The National Pension Program maternity benefit has been made available for one year so far. More than 12,000 individuals have received this new benefit.
The centennial celebration in 2011 spurred both wedding and baby booms. According to statistics announced by the Ministry of the Interior, there were more than 165,000 couples who completed marriage registrations in 2011, as well as more than 196,000 newborns, marking an increase of 19.1% and 17.8% respectively from 2010. The Ministry of the Interior has predicted a further 7% growth in the birth rate during this year, the year of dragon. The Bureau of Labor Insurance, therefore, has particularly initiated this proactive and considerate service for new moms and their babies.
According to the Bureau of Labor Insurance, Council of Labor Affairs, the maternity benefit was incorporated into the National Pension Program in 2011. Starting from July 1, 2011, all insured females who have given birth within their insurance coverage shall be eligible for the maternity benefit under the National Pension Program. Beginning in July this year, the Bureau of Labor Insurance will not only proactively publicize the information, but will also send notices and relevant application forms to married females who have given birth and are potentially eligible for the benefit but have not yet claimed for such benefit six months after the childbirth. The notices and application forms shall be sent on a regular basis in January and July of each year. The first batch of notices was sent in July 2012 to more than 6,900 recipients.
Effective from July 1, 2011, insured females having given birth (including still births) or premature birth when they are covered by the National Pension Program may claim the maternity benefit under the National Pension Program from the Bureau of Labor Insurance, Council of Labor Affairs. To receive the benefits, mothers must submit the “Application for Maternity Benefit under the National Pension Program” and the “Birth Certificate” of the infant (or the “Household Registration Transcript Carrying the Name of the Mother and the Date of Birth of the Newborn Child”). The benefit payment shall be the equivalent to the amount of one-month’s insurance under the National Pension Program, which is NT$17,280 at the present stage. In the case of multiple births, the benefit shall be increased on a proportionate basis. For example, those who have given birth to twins may receive NT$34,560 (17,280 x 2) and those who gave birth to triplets may receive NT$51,840 (17,280 x 3).
The Bureau of Labor Insurance highlighted that, although maternity benefits are offered not only by the National Pension Program but also by the Labor Insurance and Farmers’ Insurance programs, the insured can only opt for one of the three. People who are simultaneously eligible for all the three benefits, therefore, may consider claiming payments from the Labor Insurance or Farmers’ Insurance, which offer more favorable terms.
By sending the notices, the Bureau of Labor Insurance intends to elevate people’s awareness of such benefits and safeguard the interests of those who have not filed their claims in a timely manner. People who are eligible for the maternity benefit under the National Pension Program may proactively claim the benefit from the Bureau of Labor Insurance, no matter whether they have received the notice or not. Furthermore, claims for the maternity benefit under the National Pension Program may be filed within five years after the insured becomes eligible for the benefit (i.e., on the day of the childbirth). A slightly late application, therefore, will not impact the rights and interests of the insured.