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Not qualified for maternity benefit? or am i ?

  • 14-05-2010 12:33pm
    #1
    evanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭


    Hi there, hope you can advise me here re maternity benefit.

    Just a bit of background history:

    i was in fulltime job (PAYE class A, also contributed PRSI all these while) from 2002 to 2007. Since then, i took sometime off
    and doing locum work/self-employed from Jan-Sept 2008, before i went back to fulltime employment again from Sept 2008 to end
    March 2010- total of 1.5 years(PAYE class A, also contributed PRSI).

    I have stopped (resigned)working since April 2010, and my baby is due in early Nov 2010.

    Currently, i have no intention to return to full-time job until the baby is born, as i'm not feeling my best physically and my job is demanding. I plan to look for job again 6 months after the baby is born . I might take a few odd jobs (= locum work)now before the baby arrives hence file for self-employment tax (as far as i understand , if you are self emplyed you usually don't pay PRSI?)

    This is my first pregnancy and i have never claimed maternity benefit or any social allowance before.

    i was told by social welfare department i do not qualify for maternity benefit as i stopped working since early April 2010, hence does not fit into their criteria of 'in insurable employment up till 16 weeks before baby is due' as i was 8 weeks into my pregnancy when i stopped working.

    Am just wondering- the PRSI contribution i've contributed for 6.5 yrs(from 2002-2007, again 2008-2010), will that not be taken into consideration? (or override the fact that don't continue to work up till 16 weeks before my baby is due?)

    i just think the system is a bit unfair- compared to those who have just started work 1 year ago and contributed PRSI lesser than what i've contributed, i gather they are more eligible than me just because they continue to work up till 16 weeks prior baby is due?

    Maybe you can advice me if i can appeal, or if there's any point in doing so? or if there's other things i can do to qualify myself?
    Any advice much appreciated.
    Many thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    car crazy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27 ✭car crazy


    all i know from my own experience i was laid off in nov (baby was due in feb 10), thank god i fell into the catogory of that 16wks and went on it straight away, but they based it on my tax year for 2007 at the time as i had been in full time employment, but you definetly have to be working up until the 16wks before your due date to get any sort of payment off them. if you ring the maternity benifit section (they are v.helpful) they may be able to advise you...hope you get sorted, all you need now is to be worrying about money being pregnant. good luck with your baby ;)

    http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/BirthChildrenAndFamilies/MaternityBenefit/Pages/mb.aspx


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