The eligible women shall be paid the benefit at the rate of average daily wage payable to such women for the days of work during the period of three calendar months immediately before the absence from work.
The maximum period for which any woman is entitled to maternity benefit is 26 weeks of which not more than 8 weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery whereas the maximum period entitled to maternity benefit to a woman having two or more than two surviving children is 12 weeks of which not more than 6 weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery.
And in case a woman adopts a child below the age of 3 years with due legal process, she is entitled to maternity benefit for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to the adopting mother or the commissioning mother.
Also, if a woman dies during the same period the benefit is payable only for the days up to her death but where a woman who has delivered a child already, dies during her delivery or immediately following the delivery, the benefit payable would be for entire period i.e. 26 or 12 weeks. However, if the child dies too then the benefit is payable up to the death of the child.