Maternity pay supplement in a minijob — calculator, formula & U2 reimbursement.
An employee who becomes pregnant while working a minijob (Minijob, a German marginal-employment job) has full maternity protection (Mutterschutz) under the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG). If her average net pay exceeds €13.00 per calendar day (roughly €390 a month or more), the employer pays a maternity pay supplement (Zuschuss zum Mutterschaftsgeld) — and gets 100% of it back through the U2 levy (Umlage U2) of the Minijob-Zentrale. Calculate her entitlement and the employer’s reimbursement right here.
When does the employer pay — and who pays what?
The Maternity Protection Act applies in full to minijobs, too. During the statutory protection periods (Schutzfristen) — usually 6 weeks before childbirth and 8 weeks after — the expectant mother’s income is meant to continue without interruption.
Her pay during this time comes from two sources: the basic maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsgeld) and the employer supplement under § 20 MuSchG. If her average net pay per calendar day exceeds €13.00, the employer must pay the difference as a supplement.
For employers, there is one crucial safeguard: under the Employer Expense Compensation Act (Aufwendungsausgleichsgesetz, AAG), the Minijob-Zentrale (Knappschaft-Bahn-See), Germany’s central agency for minijobs, reimburses 100% of the supplement through the U2 levy scheme. In other words, the supplement ultimately costs employers nothing — the reimbursement is funded by the U2 levy they pay on an ongoing basis (0.22% of gross pay in 2026).
1. Covered by family insurance (Familienversicherung) — the most common case:
No daily benefit from a statutory health insurance fund (Krankenkasse); instead, a one-time payment of up to €210.00 from the Federal Office for Social Security (Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung, BAS) — plus the full employer supplement.
2. Statutorily insured in her own right:
Minijob workers who also have a main job subject to social insurance receive up to €13.00 per calendar day from their health insurance fund — plus the employer supplement.
3. Privately insured:
She also receives a one-time payment of up to €210.00 from the BAS, plus the full employer supplement.
Important for employers: whatever type of insurance she has, the employer supplement is always calculated with a notional deduction of €13.00 per day (§ 20(1), sentence 2 MuSchG).
Calculator: maternity pay supplement for 2026
In just a few seconds, calculate the supplement per calendar day, the total for the protection period, and the reimbursement you can claim from the Minijob-Zentrale through the U2 levy.
(monthly net × 3) ÷ 90 daysnet per day − €13.00 (if > 0)supplement / day × calendar days in the protection periodLegal basis: § 20(1) of the Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) and § 1(2) no. 1 of the Employer Expense Compensation Act (AAG). In a minijob, gross pay usually equals net pay (if the employee is exempt from mandatory pension insurance contributions).
Average of the last 3 payroll months before the protection period begins.
The standard is 90 days for 3 full months (or 91–92 days, depending on the months involved).
Typical minijob earnings compared: who pays how much?
Based on typical minijob earnings, this table shows the monthly pay at which an employer supplement kicks in and how much the full U2 reimbursement comes to (calculated for the standard 14-week protection period plus the day of delivery = 99 calendar days, § 20(1) MuSchG):
| Monthly earnings | Net / calendar day | Supplement / day | Total supplement (99 days) | U2 reimbursement (AAG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €250.00 | €8.33 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| €390.00 | €13.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| €450.00 | €15.00 | €2.00 | €198.00 | €198.00 (100%) |
| €520.00 | €17.33 | €4.33 | €428.67 | €428.67 (100%) |
| €556.00 (2025 limit) | €18.53 | €5.53 | €547.47 | €547.47 (100%) |
| €603.00 (2026 limit) | €20.10 | €7.10 | €702.90 | €702.90 (100%) |
Based on 90 calendar days in the 3-month period; daily amounts rounded to the nearest cent. If the employee is exempt from mandatory pension insurance contributions, net pay equals gross pay.
The figure of €13.00 per calendar day is the maximum that statutory health insurance funds pay as regular maternity benefit. If a minijob worker earns up to €390 a month (30 days × €13 = €390), her daily earnings don’t exceed €13.00 — so, mathematically, no employer supplement is due.
In the case of a premature birth (Frühgeburt) or a multiple birth, or if the child is diagnosed with a disability within 8 weeks of childbirth, the protection period after the birth is extended from 8 to 12 weeks (18 weeks in total plus the day of delivery = 127 calendar days).
How the 100% reimbursement from the Minijob-Zentrale works
Many employers are wary when an employee becomes pregnant, fearing unplanned staffing costs. But the U2 levy scheme, a form of employer insurance, provides a reliable safety net:
Maternity pay supplement (§ 20 MuSchG)
During the 14- or 18-week protection period, the employer pays the supplement to the minijob worker as part of the regular payroll. Once the employer files a claim, the Minijob-Zentrale reimburses 100% of the supplement paid.
Maternity protection pay (Mutterschutzlohn, § 18 MuSchG)
If a medical or workplace employment ban (Beschäftigungsverbot) keeps the employee from working before the protection period begins (e.g., because the job involves heavy lifting in commercial cleaning), the employer keeps paying her full wages. The U2 fund reimburses 100% of those wages plus the employer’s flat-rate contributions.
Electronic application via the SV-Meldeportal
The reimbursement claim under § 1 AAG is sent electronically to Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See, either from your payroll software (e.g., DATEV, Lexware) or through the free SV-Meldeportal, the official online portal for social insurance filings. The money is paid directly into the company’s bank account.
Step by step: a checklist for employers & minijob workers
Checklist for the minijob worker
Report the pregnancy: Tell your employer about your pregnancy and your expected due date as early as possible (§ 15 MuSchG).
Submit a medical certificate: Give your employer the certificate from your gynecologist or midwife confirming the due date.
Apply for maternity benefit: If you are family-insured, apply to the Federal Office for Social Security (BAS). If you are statutorily insured in your own right, apply to your own health insurance fund.
Know your protection against dismissal: From the start of your pregnancy until at least 4 months after childbirth, you have special protection against dismissal (Kündigungsschutz) under § 17 MuSchG.
Checklist for the employer
Carry out a risk assessment (Gefährdungsbeurteilung): Review the workplace (e.g., no harsh cleaning chemicals, no regular lifting of more than 5 kg).
Notify the authorities: Report the pregnancy to the relevant occupational safety authority (in Hamburg: the Office for Occupational Safety, Amt für Arbeitsschutz).
Calculate the reference pay: Determine her net pay for the last 3 calendar months and divide it by the number of calendar days (90 days).
File the U2 reimbursement claim: Claim back 100% of the supplement you paid, electronically via the SV-Meldeportal or your payroll software.
When do the protection periods start and end? Our free maternity protection calculator for minijobs works out the statutory periods before and after the birth to the exact day, including the automatic extension for premature and multiple births.
Frequently asked questions about maternity benefit in a minijob
The key legal and practical answers for employers and minijob workers — clear and to the point.
As the employer of more than 20 permanent employees in Hamburg, Jonathan Ruiz places the highest priority on compliance with the collective wage agreement, legal diligence, and reliable protection for expectant mothers on the team. More about our team →
Last updated: September 2026. Legal basis: Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG §§ 18–20), Employer Expense Compensation Act (AAG § 1). Responsible for this content: Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg, Carl-Petersen-Straße 92b, 20535 Hamburg.
Are minijob workers entitled to maternity protection and maternity benefit?
Yes, without restriction. The Maternity Protection Act (MuSchG) applies to all female employees, regardless of their weekly hours or pay. Minijob workers have full protection against dismissal, protection periods before and after childbirth, and an entitlement to maternity benefits.
At what earnings level does the employer have to pay a supplement?
The employer supplement is due whenever the minijob worker’s net pay per calendar day exceeds €13.00 (§ 20(1) MuSchG). For a 3-month period with 90 calendar days, that means monthly net pay of €390.01 or more. If monthly earnings are lower (e.g., €250 or €350), the supplement is €0.00 per calendar day.
How much maternity benefit do family-insured minijob workers receive?
Women covered by statutory family insurance through their spouse or parents don’t receive a daily benefit from a health insurance fund. If they apply to the Federal Office for Social Security (BAS), they receive a one-time maternity benefit of up to €210.00 for the entire protection period. If their net earnings exceed €13.00 per calendar day, they also receive the full employer supplement.
Is the employer stuck with the cost of the supplement?
No. Under § 1(2) no. 1 of the Employer Expense Compensation Act (AAG), the Minijob-Zentrale (Knappschaft-Bahn-See) reimburses the employer for 100% of the maternity pay supplement it has paid out, through the statutory U2 levy. On paper, then, the supplement itself adds zero euros to the employer’s net costs. The reimbursement is funded by the U2 levy that every minijob employer pays to the Minijob-Zentrale on an ongoing basis (0.22% of gross pay in 2026).
What if there’s an employment ban before the birth?
In commercial cleaning in particular, a medical or workplace employment ban is often imposed even before the 6-week protection period starts (e.g., no heavy lifting, no bending, no handling of chemical concentrates). In that case, the employer keeps paying her full previous wages as maternity protection pay (§ 18 MuSchG). Through the U2 levy, the employer gets this amount back as well — 100%, plus the employer’s flat-rate contributions.
What happens if the minijob worker has more than one job?
If the employee holds several jobs (e.g., a main job subject to social insurance plus a minijob), her net income per calendar day from all jobs is added together. If the total exceeds €13.00 per day, the employers share the supplement in proportion to each job’s share of her total net pay (§ 20(2) MuSchG).
Can a minijob worker be dismissed during pregnancy?
No. Under § 17 MuSchG, the employer may not dismiss her at any point during the pregnancy or for at least four months after childbirth. This protection applies if the employer knew about the pregnancy or is told about it within two weeks of her receiving the notice of termination.
Reliable working conditions at Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg
Full-time, part-time, or minijob: everyone who works at Ruiz is a permanent, trained employee registered for social insurance and paid above the collectively agreed wage — from €16.00 gross per hour, and minijob workers get up to €50 a month in non-cash benefits (Sachbezug) on top. Real teams, dedicated sites, and full protection of every employee’s rights.
Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg · Carl-Petersen-Straße 92b, 20535 Hamburg · Member of the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer Hamburg) & BG BAU (the statutory accident insurance institution for the construction and cleaning trades)