Apply on time
Most benefits have a deadline, often 30 days after the job ends or after the birth. Applying late can mean losing months of money that you cannot claim back.
2026 rules
Benefits calculator for Bosnia and Herzegovina
How much you get if you lose your job, have a baby, fall ill or raise children, with the 2026 rules that apply in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Quick answerIn Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a monthly net salary of 1,500 KM and 10 years of work: unemployment benefit 682.40 KM per month, duration 9 months, maternity or parental pay 1,261 KM per month, duration 12 months, sick pay for 30 days 1,200 KM in total, and child benefit for two children up to 390.26 KM per month.
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Estimate with the 2026 rules. The official amount is decided by the institution that pays it.
Popular questions
How much unemployment benefit will I get in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
With a monthly net salary of 1,500 KM and 10 years of work, the benefit is about 682.40 KM per month, duration 9 months. Duration in the Federation: 3 months with up to 5 years of service, 6 months with 5 to 10, 9 with 10 to 15, 12 with 15 to 25, 15 with 25 to 30, 18 with 30 to 35 and 24 months with more than 35 years.
How much is maternity or parental pay in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
With a monthly net salary of 1,500 KM, it is about 1,261 KM per month, duration 12 months. Federation of BiH: the benefit is set by the canton. In Sarajevo Canton an employed mother receives 1,261 KM a month in 2026, and an unemployed mother receives federal support of 55% of the minimum wage, about 565 KM.
How much sick pay do I get in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
For 30 days of sick leave you receive about 1,200 KM in total in total. Republika Srpska: the employer pays the first 30 days, after that the Health Insurance Fund of RS refunds 70% of net pay.
How much is child benefit in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
For two children the result is up to 390.26 KM per month. Federation of BiH: child allowance is 19% of the minimum wage, about 195 KM per child a month, for families whose income per member is below about 411 KM. Several cantons add their own payments.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has separate rules in the Federation of BiH and in Republika Srpska, and in the Federation many family benefits are set by each canton. Choose the entity in the calculator. The salary field uses net pay, because most benefits here are based on net salary.
Unemployment benefit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Federation of BiH: you need 8 months of work in the last 18 months. The benefit is a flat 40% of the average net wage in the Federation, about 682 KM a month in 2026, whatever you earned.
- Duration in the Federation: 3 months with up to 5 years of service, 6 months with 5 to 10, 9 with 10 to 15, 12 with 15 to 25, 15 with 25 to 30, 18 with 30 to 35 and 24 months with more than 35 years.
- Republika Srpska: 45% of your own average net pay of the last 3 months, or 50% with more than 15 years of service, with a floor and a ceiling. You apply to the Zavod za zapošljavanje RS within 30 days.
Maternity and parental leave in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Leave lasts 12 months, or 18 months for twins and for the third and every further child, and can start 28 days before the birth.
- Federation of BiH: the benefit is set by the canton. In Sarajevo Canton an employed mother receives 1,261 KM a month in 2026, and an unemployed mother receives federal support of 55% of the minimum wage, about 565 KM.
- Republika Srpska: an employed mother receives 100% of her average pay of the last 12 months, refunded by the Javni fond za dječiju zaštitu. An unemployed mother receives a maternity allowance of 405 KM a month.
Sick pay in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Federation of BiH: the employer pays the first 42 days, at least 80% of your average net pay. After that the cantonal health insurance institute refunds the employer.
- Republika Srpska: the employer pays the first 30 days, after that the Health Insurance Fund of RS refunds 70% of net pay.
- Work injury, occupational disease, pregnancy complications and organ donation are paid at 100% in both entities.
Child benefit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Federation of BiH: child allowance is 19% of the minimum wage, about 195 KM per child a month, for families whose income per member is below about 411 KM. Several cantons add their own payments.
- Republika Srpska: the allowance for the first, second and fourth child is about 117 KM a month and for the third child about 169 KM, with a strict income limit per family member.
- Many cantons and municipalities also pay one-off grants for newborns, often 500 to 1,000 KM.
Before you apply: five things people often miss
Quitting is not the same as being dismissed
In most countries you get no unemployment benefit, or get it later, if you resign or agree to leave. Before you sign a termination agreement, check what it means for your benefit.
Your insurance record decides everything
Duration and amount depend on how many months you paid contributions and on what salary. Check that your employer reported you correctly before you apply.
Gross, net and taxes
Some benefits are paid gross and are taxed, others are tax free. The calculator shows the amount the rules describe. The money you see in your account can be lower.
Combine benefits the smart way
Sick leave, maternity leave and unemployment usually cannot be paid for the same days. The order in which you claim them can change how much you receive in total.
Examples by salary
Ten years of work, age 35, first child, 30 days of sick leave, 2026 rules.
| Monthly salary | Unemployment | Maternity or parental | Sick pay, 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900 KM | 682.40 KM per month | 1,261 KM per month | 720 KM |
| 1,500 KM | 682.40 KM per month | 1,261 KM per month | 1,200 KM |
| 2,400 KM | 682.40 KM per month | 1,261 KM per month | 1,920 KM |
Frequently asked questions
Do I get unemployment benefit if I quit my job in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In both entities you get no unemployment benefit if you resign or agree to leave without a justified reason, or if you were dismissed through your own fault. Harassment or unsafe work can count as a justified reason.
Where do I apply in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Unemployment: the cantonal employment service in the Federation (for example JU Služba za zapošljavanje Kantona Sarajevo) or the Zavod za zapošljavanje RS, within 30 days. Maternity benefit: the cantonal social welfare ministry or the Javni fond za dječiju zaštitu RS. Child allowance: the social welfare centre (centar za socijalni rad).
Is this an official decision?
No. MyBenefitKit is an informational calculator. The institution that pays the benefit decides the exact amount from your full insurance record. Use the result to plan and to check the decision you receive.
Sources and disclaimer
This page is informational. The rules and amounts are based on laws and official publications valid in October 2026 and simplified for the calculator. Individual cases, collective agreements and regional rules can change the result.