Going from unemployed to self employed & maternity benefit implications

WonderousWorld

Hi all,

I am seeking any pointers or info please!

Long story short, i am currently not working and have applied for several jobs, attended interviews etc.
Very recently i had my 1st choice of work approach me with offer of work but it means becoming self emoloyed and working by contract. This job would be ideal for me and im very happy but, since approaching me a few weeks ago i have discovered i am pregnant. Very, very early stages.
Im afraid that if i do go for the job now, if im self employed i will not be eligible for maternity leave/benefit for the 6 months. Two women i know were refused and both were self employed. I
Im not in a position currently to manage that as no secured savings.

splinter65

If you are employed you must have:

At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid in the 12-month period before the first day of your maternity leave
Or

At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks of PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017 and the year following that is 2018.
Or

At least 26 weeks of PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017 and the year before that is 2016.
If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were self-employed before starting work as an employee, you can use your Class S contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit - see PRSI conditions for self-employed people below.

If you are self-employed you must be in insurable employment and have:

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017.
Or

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year is 2016.
Or

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year is 2018.
PRSI Class S contributions for a particular year are not awarded until you have paid tax due for that year. To qualify for Maternity Benefit, your income tax and PRSI liabilities (primarily for the relevant tax year) must be paid.

If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were in insurable employment before becoming self-employed, you can use your PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) in that employment to qualify for Maternity Benefit – see PRSI conditions for employed people above.

Read all of this and you can work it out for yourself.

WonderousWorld

splinter65 wrote: »

If you are employed you must have:

At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid in the 12-month period before the first day of your maternity leave
Or

At least 39 weeks of PRSI paid since first starting work and at least 39 weeks of PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017 and the year following that is 2018.
Or

At least 26 weeks of PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017 and the year before that is 2016.
If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were self-employed before starting work as an employee, you can use your Class S contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit - see PRSI conditions for self-employed people below.

If you are self-employed you must be in insurable employment and have:

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the relevant tax year is 2017.
Or

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year is 2016.
Or

52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2019, the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year is 2018.
PRSI Class S contributions for a particular year are not awarded until you have paid tax due for that year. To qualify for Maternity Benefit, your income tax and PRSI liabilities (primarily for the relevant tax year) must be paid.

If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were in insurable employment before becoming self-employed, you can use your PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) in that employment to qualify for Maternity Benefit – see PRSI conditions for employed people above.

Read all of this and you can work it out for yourself.

Thanks for replying, i had read this or something akin over on citizens info. This makes me think that as it’d be a new job & im out of work 1year that i would not be able to seek maternity.

Springfields

Basically they will assess your stamps (prsi contributions) from 2018 - if you are taking maternity leave in 2019. So if you were unemployed last year you wont be eligible afaik.

WonderousWorld

Springfields wrote: »

Basically they will assess your stamps (prsi contributions) from 2018 - if you are taking maternity leave in 2019. So if you were unemployed last year you wont be eligible afaik.

Maternity leave would be start of may 2020, and my work ended 2017. The work would only run til end of May and then its over until renewed again in September. Im so confused. Timing

Springfields

WonderousWorld wrote: »

Maternity leave would be start of may 2020, and my work ended 2017. The work would only run til end of May and then its over until renewed again in September. Im so confused. Timing

When your new job / self employment begins is irrevelant
If you are.to take mat leave / look for benefits in 2020 they will assess your contributions in 2019. If you haven't paid any prsi this year or since 2017 I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be eligible.

WonderousWorld

Springfields wrote: »

When your new job / self employment begins is irrevelant
If you are.to take mat leave / look for benefits in 2020 they will assess your contributions in 2019. If you haven't paid any prsi this year or since 2017 I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be eligible.

Thanks, ive also been told that if self employed you cant access any welfare for some amount of time. Given the nature that this is contract and ends after me only being there 5/6 months i wont have gathered enough savings to manage between contracts with family to support.

Springfields

WonderousWorld wrote: »

Thanks, ive also been told that if self employed you cant access any welfare for some amount of time. Given the nature that this is contract and ends after me only being there 5/6 months i wont have gathered enough savings to manage between contracts with family to support.

You should talk to someone in your local welfare office and explain situation. I was self employed myself at one stage and got zero welfare payments for one of my maternity leaves. It's not easy
Hope it works out for you.