Min earnings for Class S PRSI??

annamcmahon

Hi. As the title says I'm wondering what is the minimum amount I needed to earn in 2010 to pay Class S PRSI. I am having a baby in April and want to know if a) I earned enough so I have to pay PRSI so that I can claim maternity benefit, b) if not can I volunteer to pay it anyway?
I have tried ringing my local office but can't get an answer. Can't find it on the revenue website and social protection dept can't tell me.

Daxve

SW14 has the answers although you will have to refer to both the 2010 and 2011 versions to get your answers.

Minimum earnings of €3,174 apply for 2010 in order to pay class S PRSI. This changed to €5,000 for 2011. You can opt to pay the voluntary contribution (€253) if below this amount. PRSI is the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection, Revenue are just the collecting agent.

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW14/SW14_11/Documents/SW14_11.pdf

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW14/SW14_10/Documents/SW14_10.pdf

Extracts from the above:

The self-employed rate (Class S) is increased to 4% and the Class S ‘floor’
increased from €3,174 to €5,000.

Voluntary contributions
People who were insured at Classes A, B, C, D, H or S and who are no longer insurably employed may opt to pay Voluntary Contributions to provide cover for pensions. Applications must be made within 12 months from the end of the PRSI contribution year in which a PRSI contribution was last paid or credited. For more information, log on to www.welfare.ie or contact:

Voluntary Contribution Section
Cork Road
Waterford
LoCall: 1890 690 690

annamcmahon

Thanks Daxve. This is exactly what I was looking for. The usually helpful people in the Maternity Benefit section said they couldn't tell me this information so I hadn't checked that website very well. Lesson learnt.