Maternity Benefit query

Hi I below query regarding whether someone will be entitled to any state maternity benefit for the follow details,

1. Worked part-time feb till April and has only paid 7 weeks PRSI since start of the year.
2. Starting new job today working approx 30 hours a week.
3. Currently 10 weeks pregnant.
4. Total possible PRSI payment she could make before term is approx 32 weeks.
5. Was receiving OPFS for a few years until recently.

Many Thanks,
John,

There are a number of options used to determine if a woman has enough PRSI contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit (as an employee). She only has to meet one of the following:

- at least 39 paid contributions in the 12 months before the first day of mat leave
- at least 39 paid contributions since starting work and at least 39 paid or credited contributions in the relevant year (which is 2010) or the following year (2011)
- at least 26 paid contributions in the relevant tax year (2010) and at least 26 paid contributions in the previous year (2009).

She may have received PRSI credits while on One Parent Family Payment - it depends on her circumstances before she began claiming it (i.e. if she were on a scheme where credits were awarded, she continues to receive them).