China completes rollout of direct maternity allowance payments nationwide

BEIJING -- The National Healthcare Security Administration said on Friday that China has completed the nationwide rollout of direct maternity benefit payments, as part of the country's broader efforts to foster a more birth-friendly society.

The maternity allowance, disbursed through the country's maternity insurance fund, aims to help working mothers cover basic living expenses during maternity leave. The financial support not only ensures income stability but also allows them to focus on caring for their infants, easing the financial burdens on families.

The funds were previously channeled through employers, but are now paid directly into mothers' personal accounts.

The direct disbursement was first rolled out in some provincial-level regions. At a national conference held in December 2025, authorities called for its nationwide implementation to ensure all insured individuals receive payments directly.

Following recent regional adjustments, including those in Guizhou, Guangxi and Xinjiang, full implementation of the policy has now been achieved.

Thanks to streamlined procedures and reduced documentation requirements, new mothers can now receive the money within just 10 working days after submitting an application online.

Official data showed that in 2024, insured females in China received an average maternity allowance of 28,300 yuan (about $4,067).

Between 2021 and 2025, China's maternity insurance system supported over 96 million cases, with cumulative fund expenditures exceeding 438 billion yuan. These encompassed both the allowance and reimbursements for medical expenses related to childbirth.