The following persons are entitled to receive childbirth benefit - citizens of Latvia living in Latvia, non-citizens, foreign citizens and stateless persons, who have received personal ID number.

The benefit is not granted to persons, who have received a temporary residence permit.

Benefit is granted to one of the child’s parents or guardians, for the child to whom a personal ID number is granted, but not sooner than on the 8th day after the child has been born.

Benefit is granted in accordance with the law On the State social benefits articles 8 and 16.

When applying for the child care benefit the person must submit:

• application for the benefit; 
• child’s birth certificate.

In addition

• the decision of the orphan court (parish court)  about establishment of guardianship if the benefit is claimed by the child’s guardian.

When applying for the benefit a personal ID document has to be produced.

Childbirth benefit can be claimed within 12 month period from the day when the child has been born or from the day of establishing of guardianship (if the child has been taken into custody before 1 year of age).

In accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 166 of March 8, 2005, On the Procedure for Award and Payment of Child-Birth Benefit, the child-birth benefit amounts to LVL 296 for each child born on or after October 1, 2004. For a child born on or after January 1, 2006, the claimant is additionally granted LVL 100 for the birth of their first child, LVL 150 for the birth of their second child, LVL 200 for the birth of their third and every following child.

Childbirth benefit can be received at the post office of the Latvian Post or other payment organisation as well as transferred to the beneficiary’s account at the bank or postal account system (PNS).