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MATERNITY BENEFIT

  • 28-04-2011 4:49pm
    #1
    Nicole126
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭


    Hi I was wondering,

    I am due a baby at the start of September and am currently working part time, although I earn a bit more then the average part timer . I currently earn 360 weekly for 25hours work.

    My question is, when I go on Maternity Leave I will be entitled to Maternity Benefit, but the maximum rate is only €262 (i think) which is €100 less then I am currently getting at the moment, and my job currently doesnt pay us the difference.

    I am planning on going back to work after Maternity Leave. So would I be entitled to claim anything like One Parent payment while I was currently out of work on Mat Leave as I will have 2 people to support on an amount thats less then what I was supporting myself on.


Comments

  • #2
    Lugh Ildanach
    Registered Users Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Lugh Ildanach


    What age are your children? Is there any reason you were not getting One Parent Family Payment already?

    If you meet the criteria, and are in receipt of OPFP, you can receive half-rate Maternity Benefit.


  • #3
    Nicole126
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Nicole126


    I currently have no children. So this will be my first time recieving Maternity Benefit, so Im quite unsure how everything works. My main concern is that after paying out what I usually do a month I would be left stuck for money as I will be €100 down with an extra person to care for.

    I am still with the babys father, although we are not married. He is out of work for the 2nd time in a year with a sinus on the end of his spine and is not entitled to Illness Benefit due to lack of PRSI contributions and is only recieving €144 weekly from a welfare officer at the moment.

    I will be recieving Mat Benefit before I can apply for OPFP no?? So would it work the other way around. I could recieve Mat Benefit and half or a portion of OPFP??


  • #4
    mrsbyrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,228 ✭✭✭mrsbyrne


    do you live with your boyfriend?


  • #5
    Nicole126
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Nicole126


    mrsbyrne wrote: »
    do you live with your boyfriend?


    No I currently live at home with my parents. Although I will have to move out after the baby is born as there are already 6 of us living in a 3 bedroom house soon to be 7 of us.. Dont think id survive :)


  • #6
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users Posts: 9,624 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    OPFP is for single people raising a child on their own.

    The €262 I got was less than 1/2 my usual wages and I just had to try make it do. You also have the Children's allowance and that is a massive help when things are so tight.

    If you have been renting more than 6 months you may be able to claim rent allowance so consider when may be the best time to move out.


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  • #7
    Lugh Ildanach
    Registered Users Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Lugh Ildanach


    Nicole126 wrote: »
    I currently have no children. So this will be my first time recieving Maternity Benefit, so Im quite unsure how everything works. My main concern is that after paying out what I usually do a month I would be left stuck for money as I will be €100 down with an extra person to care for.

    I am still with the babys father, although we are not married. He is out of work for the 2nd time in a year with a sinus on the end of his spine and is not entitled to Illness Benefit due to lack of PRSI contributions and is only recieving €144 weekly from a welfare officer at the moment.

    I will be recieving Mat Benefit before I can apply for OPFP no?? So would it work the other way around. I could recieve Mat Benefit and half or a portion of OPFP??

    You say you are still with the baby's father. Is he living with you? If so, then you won't be eligible for OPFP. You can however get OPFP if you are living with your family, provided that you are not cohabiting with a partner/spouse. To get OPFP, you have to show that you have pursued the father for maintenance.

    I'm not sure if the 1/2 rate Mat Benefit and OPFP works if you are on the Mat Benefit first, you should ring them to find out, or perhaps a specialist organisation like the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed www.inou.ie 01 856 0088

    The other thing that should be available to you is Family Income Supplement. You can get this regardless of whether you are living with your baby's father or not. You can also get it on top of any OPFP if you qualify for that.

    If you are thinking of moving out, then you may want to consider rent supplement. In order to be eligible for rent supplement, you will need to apply to your local authority to be assessed as in need of housing. Given your income, any rent supplement that you will be eligible for will be reduced.


  • #8
    Lugh Ildanach
    Registered Users Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Lugh Ildanach


    I gave the Department a quick call to check out the position in relation to the half-rate Mat Benefit with OPFP. If you are a lone parent and this is your first child, then you should obviously apply for the full Mat Benefit when you go on your Maternity Leave. Once the child is born, you can then apply for OPFP, and once that is approved, then you tell Maternity Benefit section and they move you from the full rate to the half rate.


  • #9
    Nicole126
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Nicole126


    Lugh Ildanach wrote: »
    You say you are still with the baby's father. Is he living with you? If so, then you won't be eligible for OPFP. You can however get OPFP if you are living with your family, provided that you are not cohabiting with a partner/spouse. To get OPFP, you have to show that you have pursued the father for maintenance.

    Yes I am still with the babys father but we are both living with our own parents. So I would be able to apply for OPFP?.

    Lugh Ildanach wrote: »
    If you are thinking of moving out, then you may want to consider rent supplement. In order to be eligible for rent supplement, you will need to apply to your local authority to be assessed as in need of housing. Given your income, any rent supplement that you will be eligible for will be reduced.

    Presuming I qualify for Mat benefit and OPFP, my income would stil be quite low in terms of renting somewhere, I would have to rent for 6 months out of my own pocket before I could even apply for rent allowance or am I wrong??

    Oh and thanks for your help so far :)


  • #10
    Mom2Be
    Closed Accounts Posts: 142 ✭✭Mom2Be


    Nicole126 wrote: »
    Hi I was wondering,

    I am due a baby at the start of September and am currently working part time, although I earn a bit more then the average part timer . I currently earn 360 weekly for 25hours work.

    My question is, when I go on Maternity Leave I will be entitled to Maternity Benefit, but the maximum rate is only €262 (i think) which is €100 less then I am currently getting at the moment, and my job currently doesnt pay us the difference.

    I am planning on going back to work after Maternity Leave. So would I be entitled to claim anything like One Parent payment while I was currently out of work on Mat Leave as I will have 2 people to support on an amount thats less then what I was supporting myself on.


    You will be entitled to claim Family Income Supplement with your Maternity Benefit. Only thing is that there is such a back log with FIS. My claim took 5 months. But afaik, any woman entitled to maternity Benefit is also entitled to FIS.. No harm in checking it out (",)


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