Register now or log in to join your professional community.
Maternity Benefit is a payment made to women who are on maternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). You should apply for the payment6 weeks before you intend to go on maternity leave (12 weeks if you are self-employed). If you are already on certain social welfare payments then you may get half-rate Maternity Benefit. If you think you have been wrongly refused Maternity Benefit or you are unhappy about a decision of a Social Welfare Deciding Officer about your entitlements, you can appeal this decision.
Some employers will continue to pay an employee, in full, while she is on maternity leave and require her to have any Maternity Benefit paid to them. You should check your contract of employment to see what applies to you.
