{"id":8742,"date":"2023-12-21T10:40:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T09:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prod-migration-second.local\/?p=8742"},"modified":"2023-12-28T10:42:13","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T09:42:13","slug":"paid-leave-parent-self-employed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accountable.eu\/en-be\/blog\/paid-leave-parent-self-employed\/","title":{"rendered":"Do self-employed parents get paid leave? Discover your rights!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\"><strong>When you&#8217;re an entrepreneur, your social contributions usually yield fewer benefits than if you were an employee. But what about your social rights when you have a baby or adopt a child? Do you also have the right to paid leave as a parent? Rest assured that, as a self-employed parent, you\u2019ll also get a financial boost.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list list-decimal list-outside ml-0 mb-4 space-y-2\">\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\"><strong><a class=\"font-inter text-purple underline underline-offset-1\" href=\"#maternity-leave\">Maternity leave and benefits<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\"><strong><a class=\"font-inter text-purple underline underline-offset-1\" href=\"#adoption-leave\">Adoption leave and benefits<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\"><strong><a class=\"font-inter text-purple underline underline-offset-1\" href=\"#birth-leave\">Birth and co-parent leave<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\"><strong><a class=\"font-inter text-purple underline underline-offset-1\" href=\"#other-benefits\">Other benefits for self-employed parents<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\" id=\"maternity-leave\"><strong>Do I have the right to maternity leave when I\u2019m self-employed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">As an entrepreneur, you\u2019re entitled to maternity leave: <strong>a maximum of 12 weeks in total, or 13 for a multiple birth<\/strong>. Three of your 12 weeks of maternity leave are <strong>mandatory<\/strong>, and must be taken during:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list list-disc list-outside ml-0 mb-4 space-y-2\">\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">the 7 days before the estimated delivery date<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">the 2 weeks following the birth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">The remaining 9 (or 10) weeks <strong>can be taken when you wish<\/strong>, as long as you do so in blocks of 7 calendar days. After the birth, you have a period of 36 weeks to use these weeks of paid leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-benefits-do-i-receive-during-my-maternity-leave\" class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>What benefits do I receive during my maternity leave?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list list-disc list-outside ml-0 mb-4 space-y-2\">\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">During the first 4 weeks of maternity leave, you receive \u20ac855.74 per week \u2013 half of this amount if you take part-time maternity leave.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">As from the 5th week, you receive \u20ac782.70 per week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">If you adopt a child, your adoption benefit is \u20ac597.07 per week.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Note:<\/strong> To be eligible for the above benefits, you must have paid your social contributions in the second and third trimesters of your pregnancy. For adoption, you need to have paid your social contributions in the quarter preceding the adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"full-time-or-part-time-maternity-leave\" class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Full-time or part-time maternity leave?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">As a self-employed person, you can take your maternity leave as <strong>full-time or part-time leave<\/strong>. If you opt for full-time leave, you must completely stop your self-employed activity during your leave. If you choose to work part-time during your maternity leave, you get 18 weeks of half-time leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"extending-your-maternity-leave\" class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Extending your maternity leave<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">Does your baby need to stay in the hospital for more than 7 days immediately after birth? Then you can extend your maternity leave by the number of full additional weeks your baby stayed in the hospital \u2013 the first 7 days are not counted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">You can <strong>extend your maternity leave by a maximum of 24 weeks, or 48 weeks<\/strong> if you take your maternity leave part-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\" id=\"adoption-leave\"><strong>Adoption leave and benefits as a self-employed person<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">Are you adopting a child? Then, as a self-employed person, you are entitled to adoption leave. This amounts to a maximum of <strong>6 weeks<\/strong>. In addition, if you are adopting together with a partner, you also get 3 extra weeks of adoption leave to be divided between both parents. In some situations, adoption leave can be extended. You receive <strong>\u20ac597.07<\/strong> per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\" id=\"birth-leave\"><strong>What about paternity\/co-parent\/birth leave?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">Are you becoming a father or co-parent, and are self-employed in a primary activity or have the status of \u2018assisting spouse\u2019? <strong>Then you\u2019re entitled to 20 days (or 40 half-days) of paid birth leave.<\/strong> If you take a maximum of 8 days of birth leave, you can apply for free service vouchers as compensation. Certain conditions apply, so check with your social security fund if you qualify for this leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\" id=\"other-benefits\"><strong>Other benefits if you have a baby when you\u2019re self-employed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list list-disc list-outside ml-0 mb-4 space-y-2\">\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">Exemption from social contributions: <strong>you don&#8217;t have to pay social contributions in the first quarter after your baby\u2019s birth<\/strong>, while still retaining your social rights. The catch? Your optional pension contribution (VSPSS\/PCLI\/VAPZ) for that quarter is not deductible.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">Free service vouchers: if you return to work in your business after your maternity leave and pay the required social contributions for self-employment in a main activity, you get <strong>105 free service vouchers for household help<\/strong>.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"font-inter text-base text-black\">Birth or maternity allowance: like employees, you get a <strong>nice bonus for each child that is born<\/strong>, or that you adopt:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">\ud83d\udcb0 For Flanders, this is the <em><strong>Startbedrag<\/strong><\/em>, which amounts to \u20ac1,214.49 for each child born or adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\">\ud83d\udcb0 In Wallonia and Brussels, this is the <strong>birth allowance<\/strong> or <strong>adoption allowance<\/strong>. In Wallonia, this amount to \u20ac1,314.61 for each child born or adopted, while in Brussels you receive \u20ac1,314.61 for your first child and \u20ac597.55 for subsequent children born or adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 first-of-type:mt-0 text-black\"><em>The amounts stated in this article were last updated in December 2023. For the most up-to-date amounts, refer to <a class=\"font-inter text-purple underline underline-offset-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.infino.be\/en\/home\">Infino<\/a> and choose your region.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions-about-parenthood-and-being-self-employed-faq\" class=\"wp-block-heading font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Frequently asked questions about parenthood and being self-employed<\/strong> (FAQ)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section mb-6\" id=\"faq-question-1703151096334\"><h3 class=\"font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Do you have the right to maternity leave as a self-employed person?<\/h3><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 text-black\">As a self-employed person, you are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leave. This includes 3 weeks of mandatory rest, to be taken during the 7 days before your due date and the 2 weeks after the birth.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section mb-6\" id=\"faq-question-1703151106598\"><h3 class=\"font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Do you have the right to parental leave as a self-employed person?<\/h3><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 text-black\">No, as a self-employed person in Belgium, you unfortunately do not have the right to parental leave. Unlike employees, the self-employed are not entitled to the classic \u2018time credit\u2019 career break or parental leave. Fortunately, as a self-employed woman who gives birth, you are entitled to paid maternity leave. Self-employed fathers or co-parents are also entitled to paid birth leave.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section mb-6\" id=\"faq-question-1703151118489\"><h3 class=\"font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Do you have the right to adoption leave as a self-employed person?<\/h3><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 text-black\">Yes, the adoption leave for self-employed individuals is a maximum of 6 weeks. Moreover, you also receive a benefit during those weeks.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section mb-6\" id=\"faq-question-1703151129703\"><h3 class=\"font-degular scroll-mt-32\"><strong>Do you have the right to paternity leave as a self-employed person?<\/h3><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer font-inter text-base leading-relaxed mb-4 text-black\">Self-employed fathers or co-parents have the right to paid birth leave upon the birth of their child. This amounts to 20 days or 40 half-days.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you&#8217;re an entrepreneur, your social contributions usually yield fewer benefits than if you were an employee. But what about your social rights when you have a baby or adopt a child? Do you also have the right to paid leave as a parent? Rest assured that, as a self-employed parent, you\u2019ll also get a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":3940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[269,279],"tags":[250,251,259],"class_list":["post-8742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-important-things-to-know","category-main","tag-freelancer-2","tag-independent","tag-sole-propietorship"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do self-employed parents get paid leave? Discover your rights! - Accountable<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As a self-employed parent, are you entitled to the same types of paid leave as employees? 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