Illness benefit while pregnanten

Sinead Mc1

Hi guys. Signed on for job seekers allowance for the first time this week. I'm due a baby in 3 weeks time so was handing in a few forms as well in that regard. The guy I was dealing with was really lovely. Had a little laugh about how exhausted i am. As I was leaving he did say to me "you know you would be entitled to illness benefit, if you were ill" I wasn't really sure where he was going with it and then he said "you know alot of women would get a signature from gp regarding stress or tiredness in pregnancy, might be worth a try". Just wondering, does anyone know if the benefit is back dated or carried on after the baby is born. Hardly a point with only 3 weeks left. Wish I had known as I had very low iron throughout both this pregnancy and last pregnancy and last time, when I was working, hospital even told me I shouldn't be but didnt really think I had any choice. Anyone got any info?

cee_jay

Illness Benefit is based on your PRSI contributions - to qualify you need to have the relevant contributions and your doctor needs to be of the opinion you are not fit for work to supply you with the required cert. It is normally paid from the date of claim and not backdated unless there are some exceptional circumstances. Being pregnant does not preclude you from claiming.
If you do not have enough contributions, you can still submit the certs and see if the CWO would pay you.

No Pants

How does it work with being too ill to go to work if you weren't going to work anyway?

Sinead Mc1

cee_jay wrote: »

Illness Benefit is based on your PRSI contributions - to qualify you need to have the relevant contributions and your doctor needs to be of the opinion you are not fit for work to supply you with the required cert. It is normally paid from the date of claim and not backdated unless there are some exceptional circumstances. Being pregnant does not preclude you from claiming.
If you do not have enough contributions, you can still submit the certs and see if the CWO would pay you.

Thanks Cee_jay.
Yes, he checked my contributions and then suggested it. Do you know if they would continue to pay it after i've had the baby, although i dont really see how, or would i be back to job seekers allowance. Slightly confused as to why he'd mention it as its only 3 weeks. Although i suppose every little helps.

wmpdd3

You can claim illness benefit until you get better and are able to look for work or until you contributions run out. After that you would have to claim JSB / JSA and be looking for work.

Were you not able to claim maternity benefit? when did you lose you job?