PRSI/Maternity Benefit

maddogcollins

I was asked recently what the minimum PRSI contribution (voluntary) is needed to keep oneself elegible for Maternity Benefit?

Anybody have any idea..cant seem to find anything on revenue/welfare about it.

Thanks

cee_jay

From [url]www.welfare.ie:[/url]

The PRSI contributions can be from employment or self-employment - PRSI classes that count for Maternity Benefit are A, E, H and S (self-employed).

If you are employed you must have:

At least 39 weeks PRSI paid in the 12-month period before the first day of your maternity leave
Or

At least 39 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2009, the relevant tax year is 2007 and the year following that is 2008.
Or

At least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2009, the relevant tax year is 2007 and the year before that is 2006.
If you are self-employed you must have:

52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2009, the relevant tax year is 2007.
Or

52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2009, the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year is 2006.
Or

52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2009, the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year is 2008.
If you are now self-employed but you were in insurable employment before you became self-employed, your PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) in that employment may help you qualify for Maternity Benefit if you do not satisfy the self-employment conditions as stated above.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/BirthChildrenAndFamilies/MaternityBenefit/Pages/mb.aspx

maddogcollins

Thanks cArOl. Dont know how i missed that.Will have a read of it now.