Bridging the gap between maternity benefit and returning to work?

DaveyDave

Hi all,

We're due our first in November, none of the creches in our area take babies until they're 12 months. I see maternity is only paid up to 26 weeks so she will be taking unpaid maternity leave then using annual leave to get her more or less to the 12 month mark before we can use crèche and return to work.

Since she's still an employee during maternity I don't believe there's anything she can claim for that time? Are we really supposed to live on a single salary for 6 months? We're not married so I don't believe I can use her tax credits?

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058308128/bridging-the-gap-between-maternity-benefit-and-returning-to-work

So it will be 26 weeks maternity benefit, then parents benefit for 7 weeks then with her employers agreement it will be annual leave if ye want to have income every week.

You can also take 7 weeks parents benefit and 2 weeks paternity benefit and stay home to mind the baby while she goes back to work

Unpaid maternity leave means no wages and no SW but you are accruing holidays and public holidays while you’re on it.

Getting married and doesn’t need to cost much and is a great help as you can switch around the tax credits in periods where only one of you is in employment.

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942433#Comment_120942433

Parents leave would be unpaid though? The only benefit I have at work is 2 weeks paid paternity leave, everything else is unpaid. She also has no paid benefits from work outside of a €30/week maternity payment from her employer.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120943567#Comment_120943567

No, you are misinformed.

Parents Benefit is paid by SW.

You are confusing it with parental leave. Search for “ parents benefit” on the citizens information website and give it a good read. It’s all there.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120943567#Comment_120943567

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/families-and-children/parents-benefit/

Ezeoul

Don't forget you will also have child benefit each month from the month after the baby's birth - every little helps!