Thai Social Security childbirth benefit: can both mom and dad claim, how do you file, and what's the deadline?

As the due date gets closer, lots of families start doing the math: “How much is the Social Security childbirth payment? And if we both have Social Security, can we claim twice?” We get this question a lot, and the answers on social media are a confusing mix of old and new information.

So here’s a clear summary based on 2026 information: what each parent can claim, how many payments there are, how to file, and how long you have to file. Once you’ve read it, you can take it straight to your HR department.

A quick note for foreign parents: this is about Thailand’s Social Security Fund (ประกันสังคม), the system you pay into through your employer (Section 33) or by yourself (Section 39 or Section 40).

How many payments are there, and how much is each?

Quick Answer: There are 2 main payments. The first is a flat childbirth payment of 15,000 baht per birth. The second is a maternity leave allowance of 50% of the average wage for 90 days, which is only for a mom who is herself insured.

Payment	How much	Who gets it
Flat childbirth payment	15,000 baht per birth, no limit on the number of births, the same for a vaginal birth or a C-section	Mom or dad, whichever is insured, one of them only
Maternity leave allowance	50% of average wage for 90 days	Only a mom who is herself insured
Prenatal checkups and care	Actual costs, up to 1,500 baht in total, split across 5 stages of pregnancy	Insured women, or an insured man can claim for his wife

The Government Information Center also states that the maternity leave allowance can be claimed no more than 2 times, while the flat childbirth payment has no limit.

Has the 90-day leave allowance changed in 2026?

Quick Answer: Yes. From 1 January 2026, the wage ceiling for Section 33 members rose from 15,000 to 17,500 baht, so the 90-day leave allowance is now up to 26,250 baht, up from 22,500 baht.

Here’s an easy way to work it out yourself: average wage (up to the ceiling) × 50% × 3 months

• A salary of 12,000 baht gets about 12,000 × 50% × 3 = 18,000 baht
• A salary of 17,500 baht or more gets the maximum of 17,500 × 50% × 3 = 26,250 baht

This ceiling is only the first step. From 2026 to 2028 it’s 17,500 baht, then it moves to 20,000 baht from 2029 to 2031, and 23,000 baht from 2032. If you give birth in a different year, the numbers change accordingly.

For Section 39 members (who pay contributions themselves after leaving a job), the wage base used for Section 39 is much lower than Section 33, so this payment is smaller. It’s best to check the actual amount with the 1506 hotline.

If both mom and dad are insured, can we claim both ways?

Quick Answer: The 15,000 baht childbirth payment can be claimed by one parent only per birth. The 90-day leave allowance belongs to mom anyway, so the two don’t overlap.

If it were us, in a family where mom has Social Security, the easiest thing is for mom to file, because the childbirth payment and the leave allowance can go in the same claim. Dad doesn’t lose anything, though. He can still use other rights, such as the monthly child allowance (read more in Social Security child allowance vs. the newborn child support grant: what’s the difference?)

So what does dad get?

• If mom doesn’t have Social Security, a dad insured under Section 33 or Section 39 can claim the 15,000 baht childbirth payment instead, and can also claim prenatal care costs for his wife
• Leave to help care for the baby: this isn’t Social Security money, but a new labor protection law effective 7 December 2025 lets spouses take 15 days of leave on full pay. Talk to your HR department

Who is eligible, and how long do you need to have paid contributions?

Quick Answer: Section 33 or Section 39 members who have paid contributions for at least 5 months within the 15 months before the month of birth.

For example, if you give birth in March, count back 15 months. Within that period, you need at least 5 months of contributions in total. They don’t have to be consecutive.

Common questions:

• Just started a new job: if you haven’t paid 5 months by the time you give birth, you won’t be eligible for this pregnancy. See whether your spouse meets the conditions
• Quit before giving birth: a Section 33 member who leaves their job stays covered for childbirth for another 6 months, or you can sign up for Section 39 to keep your rights
• Section 40 members (self-employed): childbirth rights are different from Section 33 and Section 39 and depend on the option you signed up for. Checking directly with 1506 is the surest way

How do you file the childbirth claim, and what documents do you need?

Quick Answer: File online through e-Self Service at sso.go.th, or file form SSO 2-01 (สปส. 2-01) at any Social Security office. You need your baby’s birth certificate, your ID card, and a bank account or PromptPay linked to your ID card number.

Prepare these documents first:

• Benefit claim form SSO 2-01 (สปส. 2-01)
• Baby’s birth certificate (for twins, one for each baby). See how to register a birth and what documents you need in What documents do you need to register your baby’s birth?
• The insured person’s ID card
• The page of a savings bank book in the insured person’s name, or PromptPay linked to the ID card number
• If dad is filing, also prepare your marriage certificate or a document showing paternity
• For prenatal care costs, use a medical certificate or a copy of the pink mother-and-child health book that shows the checkup dates and weeks of pregnancy, along with receipts

Filing online is just 4 steps:

1. Go to sso.go.th and log in (if you don’t have an account yet, sign up first)
2. Choose the e-Self Service system
3. Choose “Claim benefits,” then choose childbirth
4. Fill in the details, choose a convenient office, upload your documents, and submit

Once approved, the money is transferred to the account you gave. How fast it comes depends on how complete your documents are. If the names on the birth certificate, ID card and bank account all match, things usually go smoothly.

What’s the deadline? Do you lose your rights if you file late?

Quick Answer: Under Section 56 of the Social Security Act, you must file within 2 years from the date you become eligible. If you miss the deadline, you must give reasons and show why it was necessary for the office to consider.

Some websites say 1 year. If you find conflicting information, go by the current law and ask 1506. But even though you have 2 whole years, there’s no need to wait that long. Life after birth is hectic, and the longer you leave it, the more likely you are to forget. Try this:

• The day you get the birth certificate, take a photo of it on your phone straight away
• File the childbirth claim online within the first week or so after getting the birth certificate
• File for the child allowance at the same time, because it uses the same form and set of documents

How do 120 days of maternity leave and the 90-day Social Security payment fit together?

Quick Answer: They’re separate. Your employer pays wages during maternity leave for up to 60 days, and Social Security pays a leave allowance of 50% of your average wage for 90 days.

The labor protection law effective 7 December 2025 increased maternity leave from 98 to 120 days, with the employer paying wages as for working days for up to 60 days. The Social Security payment is a separate amount that you file for yourself, so the two don’t cancel each other out. The days beyond the 60 days your employer pays may be unpaid leave from your employer, depending on each company’s benefits.

If you’re planning when to start your leave, read more in How many weeks pregnant should you start maternity leave?

Quick checklist before you file

• Check who in your family is insured and has paid contributions for 5 months within the 15 months before the birth
• Agree on who will file the childbirth claim (if mom is eligible, mom files)
• Prepare the birth certificate, ID card, and bank account or PromptPay linked to the ID card number
• If dad is filing, prepare your marriage certificate or a document showing paternity
• File for the child allowance at the same time
• If you have any questions, call 1506, available 24 hours a day

Social Security amounts can be adjusted by ministerial regulation. Check again with sso.go.th or 1506 before filing for peace of mind. For now, rest as much as you can. You’ll have time to take care of the paperwork one step at a time.