Eligibility for Maternity Benefits
As per the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, the only eligibility criterion is 80 days of service in the past 12 months to be eligible for the benefits, provided your organization has 10 or more employees. The maternity benefit does not accrue from the day of conception. According to the amendment to the MB Act, a pregnant working woman is entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, with a maximum of 8 weeks before the expected delivery date and approximately 18 weeks after childbirth. You can plan to avail maternity benefits accordingly.