Female Sole Trader - no Maternity entitlements - really????

shihtzulover

I am seeking some accurate information as to what (if any) my entitlements are concerning maternity leave as I am a female sole trader registered for income tax. I am confused as although i pay the same relative rate of tax as every other woman in the country, i heard that because i am a self-employed female, I am therefore entitled to nothing in way of Maternity leave (or anything!). Surely this couldn't be true - can someone more knowledgeable than me clarify this for me please?

If this is the case, is there any kind of a scheme I can pay into to qualify for maternity benefit? In the UK they have a Maternity allowance scheme for female sole traders so they don't go without, what does the Irish revenue have for irish female sole traders? Is is possible to pay PRSI in addition or instead of income tax - I don't understand why females in business are penalised even though we pay the same tax rate relative to income as everyone else? Does years of PRSI contribution entitle me to nothing?

Hope someone can help, because if it's true i'm entitled to nothing i can't afford to have children which is devastating!

Thanks in advance, Denise

Alan Shore

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).

You need to meet certain contribution criteria, check

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/maternity_benefit.html

shihtzulover

thanks so much for posting, appreciate your reply. Thank you!