Mothers say monthly maternity payments are delayed; demand answers from Health Insurance Fund
Mothers report unpaid benefit for June 2026 and demand why monthly maternity payments keep arriving late.
Dozens of mothers in Skopje and other towns say their maternity benefits are arriving late, leaving households without the predictable monthly income they depend on. Several told the editorial office they have not received the maternity compensation for June 2026 and are demanding clear answers from the Health Insurance Fund and the ministries responsible for health and finance.
The affected parents say the delays repeat every month and that public statements from the Fund have started to look like marketing or diplomatic messages meant to hide deeper operational problems. They want to know who is responsible and how families with newborns and small children can be left without a steady monthly payment.
In response to public concern, the Health Insurance Fund (FZO) issued a clarification that there is no single fixed date each month for paying maternity allowances. According to the Fund, payment is a continuous administrative process: once an application is received it is checked for completeness, verified for compliance with legal requirements, and only after those controls is a case approved for payment.
Pressure mounts for faster processing
Mothers also complain that communication from the Fund lacks detail on timelines and case backlogs. Several say they have submitted all required documents but still wait for payment, while others report missing guidance when irregularities are discovered during controls.
Klekovski: "The Fund is seeking a solution to the technical problems in paying maternity sick leave." He added that the administration is looking for ways to reduce delays but gave no firm deadline for when payments would return to a predictable monthly schedule.
Parents and advocacy groups are calling on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance to demand quicker fixes and to publish a clear timeline for clearing overdue cases. For now, many families say they must rely on savings or help from relatives while waiting for the Fund's decisions.
Photo: press material from the event
