Maternity Benefit Question

[rubberduckey]

Hi There, Ive read through Oasis a few times but am looking for some clarification as to the following situation.

Mrs Rubberduckey is expecting our first child in mid-March 2007. Up to and including 2005 she had been working as an IT contractor and had a limited company setup.

Since August 2006 she has been working for a financial institution on a fixed term 6 month contract as a PAYE worker.

I, her husband have been a PAYE worker for going on 7 years paying tax at the top bracket.

Are we/she entitled to Maternity Benefit???

Thanks for your help,

Rubberduckey

 

[huskerdu]

Hi RD,
Your PRSI contributions are irrelevant. If Mrs RD has enough PRSI contributions from her PAYE or self employed work, as outlined below. she will qualify.
Will she have 39 weeks from March 2206 / March 2007 ?
Wil she have 39 weeks in total from 2005 ?

see for full details

Rules

Maternity Benefit is paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to women who have paid a certain number of PRSI contributions on their own insurance record and who are in recognised work up to the first day of their maternity leave. The last day of work can be within 16 weeks of the expected date of arrival of your baby.
The PRSI contributions can be from employment or self-employment - classes of PRSI that count are A, E, H and S (self-employed).
If you are employed you must have:

• at least 39 weeks PRSI paid in the 12 month period before the first day of your maternity leave; or
• at least 39 weeks PRSI paid since first starting work and, in general, at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the second last complete tax year before the year in which your maternity leave commences. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2006, the relevant tax year is 2004. If a tax year later than the relevant tax year has ended before the start of your maternity leave (in this case 2005) contributions in that tax year may be used to help you qualify for maternity benefit.
• or
• at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year prior to the relevant tax year. This provision applies to you if your maternity leave began on or after 23 March 2001. If you failed to qualify on the basis of the contribution conditions up to 23 March 2001, you are only entitled to claim maternity leave for any period of unexpired certified leave after 23 March 2001.

 

[Towger]

Are we/she entitled to Maternity Benefit???

Rubberduckey

I don't see why not. When she was self employed she should have paid class S PRSI. They always look at the pervious year, so her PAYE class A may not be on their system yet, not that it makes a difference. I would apply early (12 weeks? ), as per their instructions for a self employed person. You can contact Socal Welfare and they can tell you there and then what is recorded on their systems.

Towger