Maternity Support Benefit

In recent years, because of many social problems, many pregnant women and families with children feel isolated and worried.

For example,

・Raising a child in a city where you did not grow up (more than 70% of mothers※)

・Having no free time for yourself

・Having nobody to take care of your child (about 60% of mothers※)

・Heavy physical burden from child-rearing

※ Based on the 2017 report by the National Child-Care Support Network (Survey of users at 240 child-care support centers. About 10 people per center answered. Valid responses: 1,136).

Tsukuba City has started two new programs to support all pregnant women and mothers and to create a safe environment for giving birth and raising children.

The Maternity Support Benefit and the Maternity Consultation and Support Program are programs that provide counseling and connect mothers to necessary support through interviews, and also give financial assistance to help create a safe environment for childbirth and child-rearing.

Through three interviews (※), we will think together with you about your family’s plan for childbirth and child-rearing.

※ Interviews are conducted by health professionals such as public health nurses, midwives, and nurses.

※ For the Second Payment of the Maternity Support Benefit, pregnant women who apply for recognition in Tsukuba City and report the number of fetuses can receive 50,000 yen per fetus, regardless of whether the pregnancy continued or not.
For details on how to apply, please contact the Children’s Future Center.

When you submit the pregnancy notification, Tsukuba City will provide information about the programs.

① Please download the Tsukukko! Sukusuku App (Maternal and Child Health Handbook app).

② An interview will be conducted when you submit the pregnancy notification.

③ You will receive the Child-Care Guide. Based on the pregnancy notification and the guide, review together with the interviewer (※) how to spend the pregnancy period and what services you can use.

④ You will receive guidance about the next steps of the Maternity Consultation and Support Program.

⑤ You will be informed about how to apply for the Maternity Support Benefit (First Payment). Please complete the application within one month after the interview.

※ Interviews are conducted by health professionals such as public health nurses, midwives, and nurses.

A payment of 50,000 yen will be provided for each pregnancy as the First Payment of the Maternity Support Benefit.

Examples of Use

Pregnant women:How will I get to my prenatal checkups…?

Interviewer (※):Let’s think about this together, including how to spend the time until childbirth.

Pregnant women:I was able to use the first Pregnancy Support Benefit for transportation to prenatal checkups, and it helped ease my worries!

Husband or partner:I wonder if I can take good care of the baby and manage the housework…

Interviewer (※):There are also parenting classes and childcare experience programs (maternity salons)!

Husband or partner:I learned that there are parenting classes (maternity salons), and I felt relieved to hear opinions from people in the same situation and learn about mindset.

A questionnaire will be sent around the 8th month of pregnancy. If you wish, an interview can be conducted.

※ If there is no response, you may be contacted by phone.

① Please complete the questionnaire online using the QR code in the notice sent by mail. If you wish, an interview under the Maternity Consultation and Support Program can be conducted.

② With the interviewer (※), review your answers and use the Child-Care Guide to plan together for delivery, after-birth life, and needed services.

※ Interviews are conducted by health professionals such as public health nurses, midwives, and nurses.

※ The 8-month pregnancy questionnaire must be answered regardless of whether the pregnancy continues.

Examples of Use

Pregnant women:It’s almost time to give birth... I wonder if I can really raise a child.

Interviewer (※):We will introduce local child-care support centers and talk with you about using services for childbirth and after birth.

Pregnant women:Now I know the local child-care support center near me!

After submitting the birth registration, please fill out the Health Service Registration Form (for the baby home visit) online.

① You will receive a baby home visit within about four months after birth.

② With the interviewer (※), check the Child-Care Guide and review child-rearing consultations, postnatal care services, and child-care information from health centers.

③ We will explain how to apply for the Maternity Support Benefit (2nd Payment). Please finish the application within one month after the interview.

※ Interviews are conducted by health professionals such as public health nurses, midwives, and nurses.

※ You will receive the Second Payment when you apply for the maternity benefit recognition. Regardless of how long the pregnancy continues, you can receive 50,000 yen per fetus. For details, please contact the Children’s Future Center.

A Second Payment of 50,000 yen per fetus will be provided under the Maternity Support Benefit.

Examples of Use

Mothers:My baby doesn’t drink breast milk (or formula) well... I’m worried about weight gain. Everything is new to me as a first-time parent, and I have nobody close to ask for advice...

Interviewer (※):We will give advice on feeding while measuring your baby’s weight, listen to your concerns and questions, and guide you to necessary services.

Mothers:I was relieved to see my baby gaining weight and to ask questions that eased my worries. The second Pregnancy Support Benefit helped me use Family Support services.