Maternity Benefit if employed by family member?

[Missie]

I am being made redundant in a couple of weeks time and I am 12 weeks pregnant.
I know that despite having continuous employment for 12+ years, I will not be entitled to maternity benefit because I would not be in employment by the time my maternity leave would start (24 weeks at the earliest)
However, a family member has offered me about 6-8 weeks work in a temporary capacity in their small business. That would bring me up to about 25 weeks pregnant.
Does anyone know if I can apply for maternity benefit then? Are there any restrictions on being employed by a family member and eligibility for various social welfares schemes? I know there's a question on the form "Are your related to your employer?" but there's no imformation on what the implications are.
Also if I was entitled to MB, would I be able to claim Job Seekers Benefit after that finished?

Many Thanks

M
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[Megan]

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publicatio...entsthatAreCoveredforSocialInsurancePRSI.aspx
There might be something of interest to you in the above link.

 

[Missie]

Thanks so much for that link Megan.
At first I thought I was not eligible as the family relationship is "spouse" so not an insurable family employment.
But then it also says that Limited companies or partnerships pay a full stamp regardless and the family relationship does not apply, so I think I would be covered there. Yayyy! (i think!!)

M
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