Can I take parental childcare leave?
Yes: you're entitled to childcare leave, if you earned income in the required period. The leave lasts up to 2 years (or 3 years for a child with a disability) and can be taken either by the mother or the father. The monthly allowance is 85% of the average net income from the last 12 months (within the 2 years before the birth), with a minimum and a maximum set by law. The main condition: you must have earned income subject to income tax for at least 12 months in the two years before the birth (periods such as sick leave, maternity leave, paid unemployment etc. are treated as equivalent). Parents who return to work earlier can get the insertion stimulus. The filing deadline is usually 60 working days from the birth or the end of maternity leave, to get the allowance retroactively.
📋 The rules
- Leave up to 2 years (3 years for a child with a disability)
- Can be taken by the mother or the father
- Allowance: 85% of average net income (12 months)
- Condition: 12 months of income in the prior 2 years
- Early return to work: insertion stimulus
🔓 Exceptions
- Equivalent periods (sick, maternity, paid unemployment): count for the record
- Allowance with a minimum and maximum: capped by law
- 60-day deadline for the request: for retroactive payment
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Childcare leave is a right, not an obligation, so we're not talking about sanctions but conditions and deadlines. Watch the deadline for filing the request (usually 60 working days from the birth or the end of maternity leave), to get the allowance retroactively from the birth date. If you file later, the allowance is granted from the request date. During the leave, the employment contract is suspended, and the employer can't dismiss you for this reason. To exercise your right: check whether you meet the 12-month income condition, prepare the documents (birth certificate, income statements), file the request with DGASPC/AJPIS on time and decide whether to opt for leave or the insertion stimulus.
📎 Official sources
- GEO 111/2010 on childcare leave and allowance →
- ANPIS · National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection →
- Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity →
❓ Frequently asked
How long does childcare leave last?
The leave lasts up to 2 years, and for a child with a disability up to 3 years. It can be taken either by the mother or the father. During the leave, the employment contract is suspended, and the parent gets a monthly allowance calculated based on the income earned before the child's birth.
How much is the childcare allowance?
The monthly allowance is 85% of the average net income earned in the last 12 months within the 2 years before the birth, with a minimum and a maximum set by law. So the amount depends on your prior income, but can't fall below the minimum threshold or exceed the maximum cap.
Who can get this leave?
The leave can be taken by either parent, provided they earned income subject to income tax for at least 12 months in the two years before the child's birth. Periods such as sick leave, maternity leave or paid unemployment are treated as equivalent and count towards the required record.
What is the insertion stimulus?
It's a sum granted to parents who return to work earlier, before the end of childcare leave. The insertion stimulus encourages an early return to work and is granted, under the law, until the child reaches a certain age, alongside the income from work.
By when must the request be filed?
The filing deadline is usually 60 working days from the child's birth or the end of maternity leave, to get the allowance retroactively from the birth date. If you file the request later, the allowance is granted only from the filing date, not retroactively.
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