My wife and I have been doing some research about the childcare leave system, trying to figure out more details regarding how exactly it works. To my understanding, a parent on leave is able to receive an allowance equal to 66% of their income for the first six months, and then 50% of their income for the remainder of the leave period, up until the child’s first birthday. The amount that is considered to be your income should be calculated based on the previous 12 months while paying into social insurance, and payments are made on the assumption that the worker intends to return to their place of employment at the end of the leave period.
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Here’s where things get a bit less clear:
\- Assuming I were to begin childcare leave again less than 12 months after returning to work (having a second child), would my income be considered to include months before my first leave (a non-continuous 12 months), or would I be considered to have an income of 0 for several months leading up to the second leave period?
\- For one reason or another, during the period I plan to be on leave, my boss intends to “suspend” my contract and pick it back up when I return. I am on a fixed one-year contract that we’ve already renewed before, and have discussed renewing again, but I guess I’m not really sure what the benefits or risks would be of suspending my contract while on leave. I’m worried that suspending it would cause some problems with the childcare leave allowance, but, it also seems strange that he’d suggest it if that were the case.
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Is anyone more familiar with the specifics regarding how employment and income works regarding the whole childcare leave system?
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Thank you in advance!
by LJ-TA
2 comments
Just one point to add before answering your questions. Depending on your income you may received less than the percentages you wrote. Payments max out at 310,000 for the first six months and 230,000 for the rest.
For the first question, yes, you would be considered to have an income of 0 for some of the months. During child care leave you receive 給付金. This is not salary. But the good point about that is that you don’t have to pay taxes on it.
For question two, I’m not sure but I’m sure a quick google would help you out.
I can’t cover all your questions but I want you to know that in my case i didn’t have my contract suspended or anything and i did get 60% of my wages for the time I was on leave, but i only got it (all at once) when i returned to work. I had no income during my leave but i still had to pay for pension, medical insurance, etc.