Maternity Benefit

lrushe

People have me really confused on this one!
I am currently 29 weeks pregnant, I was made redundant in August from a job I was in for 12 years & have been on JSB since.
I never thought anything about maternity benefit as I am currently not working but several people have told me to apply as I would be entitled to something.
Is this correct? Surely I would need to be in employed to get maternity benefit??

mrs vimes

You need to be
"in insurable employment up to the first day of their maternity leave. The last day of work can be within 16 weeks of the end of the week your baby is due." (from here)

Since you might satisfy the other criteria (number of stamps paid, etc), you should see if you can get even a day or two work somewhere so you could then qualify (easier said than done I'm sure)

lrushe

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I will be entitled to a payment but the girl in the Social Welfare Office didn't seem too sure so gave me the form to fill out. I'll send it in and see what they say. Thanks again for your imput

LashingLady

lrushe wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I will be entitled to a payment but the girl in the Social Welfare Office didn't seem too sure so gave me the form to fill out. I'll send it in and see what they say. Thanks again for your imput

Wait! Don't send the form in if you don't have a job. To qualify you need to have a job as at the day you take leave. Could you get work somewhere even for a day a week as the other poster says? Do you know someone who could employ you? As it sounds like you would qualify based on your previous PRSI record you should loom into this.

Otherwise are you on the dole presently? I'm nof sure if you can continue to claim it after 38 weeks as you are not technically available for work....

See if you can get a small job, it would have to be "on the books" you would have to be paying PRSI etc but maternity benefit is from 260 per week so it might be worthwhile. And as you've been working for the past few years it's not like you're not entitled to it.

But you're DEFINITELY not entitled if you're not working so don't send the form in saying that...

LashingLady

lrushe wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, I don't think I will be entitled to a payment but the girl in the Social Welfare Office didn't seem too sure so gave me the form to fill out. I'll send it in and see what they say. Thanks again for your imput

Wait! Don't send the form in if you don't have a job. To qualify you need to have a job as at the day you take leave. Could you get work somewhere even for a day a week as the other poster says? Do you know someone who could employ you? As it sounds like you would qualify based on your previous PRSI record you should loom into this.

Otherwise are you on the dole presently? I'm nof sure if you can continue to claim it after 38 weeks as you are not technically available for work....

See if you can get a small job, it would have to be "on the books" you would have to be paying PRSI etc but maternity benefit is from 260 per week so it might be worthwhile. And as you've been working for the past few years it's not like you're not entitled to it.

But you're DEFINITELY not entitled if you're not working so don't send the form in saying that...

Play Bunny

she would be entitled to mb, i was in the same boat i was 24wks preg when i was made redundant and qualified for the full mb , it started from the day i was made redundant and i got it for the 26wks then went onto social welfare allowance.

wmpdd3

You can also go on maternity leave early, ie not 2 weeks before due date. You can go on maternity leave now at 29 weeks or say 32 weeks as that gives you enough time to get he form filled in and sent away.

Also I was on maternity benefit twice in 2 years, the second time they went on the PRSI contributions based on 2009. No idea why, but I have been working full-time for 16 years.

lrushe

I emailed my details to the Maternity Benefit section of the Social Welfare & am waiting on a response. If I haven't heard anything by next week I'm just going to sent the forms in. I don't think there is much change of me getting any work in the next 8 weeks considering I've been trying for the past 22 weeks :-(

Play Bunny

ah there usually quick enough to reply believe it or not, ive emailed them myself 2day im preg at the mo and ive a couple of questions have to say when i was made redundant for the 1st time in 09 they were extremely helpful,