Need advice re: pregnancy related benefits

[lowdenclear]

Okay, here's where things stand... I just recently moved from Belfast to Dublin when I got married at the end of October. I started a new job on 10 November and just found out before Christmas that we're expecting our first baby. From what I can gather, the baby should be due around 21st August.

Now, here's where things get tricky...

Because I won't have been in work for a year or over, I won't be entitled to anything from work. As per the rules for state maternity benefit, I'll need to have paid 39 weeks of PRSI to be eligible for this... I will be a few weeks short of this from what I gather. Even if I do get the state maternity benefit, it would not even cover the rent in our apartment, never mind anything else...

In addition to this, there's Vhi. We can register for that through work (I still need to do this!), but according to their website, "To claim maternity or pregnancy benefits from Vhi Healthcare, you must be insured with us for 52 weeks before you are admitted to hospital."

Of course I hear you say "what about your husband??" Well. He's actually out of work right now and is looking for something. He had been working part time as a lecturer up until now but that has just wound down before Christmas so he's now unemployed. He does a few first aid related classes here and there, bringing in a couple of hundred quid a month, but they are by no means reliable. So far, for the last couple of months, we've been pretty much depending on my salary to pay the rent, bills, etc -- though we have been kind of living off money-related wedding gifts too.

So, basically, it's looking to me as if I'm completely screwed. I'll not get anything from work when on maternity leave, and possibly not from the state. I'm not entitled to Vhi coverage, so the bills will probably be through the roof. And we've no idea how we'll cover the rent, never mind anything else.

Please tell me I'm missing something and this isn't all as bad as it looks to me????

Any advice would be GRATEFULLY received!

 

[terrysgirl33]

First of all, while you can certainly run up medical bills if you want, you are entitled to free healthcare for the duration of you pregnancy and the birth of your child:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/birth-family-relationships/before-your-baby-is-born

While you haven't been working in Ireland long enough to qualify on PRSI grounds, were you working in NI before that? You can transfer over the benefit of you national insurance contributions, though I am not sure of the details:

The below is a quote:

Insurance from employment in another countryIf you were previously insurably employed in a country covered by EU Regulations or in a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement and you have paid at least one full rate PRSI contribution in Ireland, you may combine your insurance record in that country with your Irish PRSI contributions to help you qualify for Maternity Benefit. In this case, you should send your application for Maternity Benefit 12 weeks before your baby is due.


http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...ts-to-families-and-children/maternity_benefit


Social insurance contributions from abroad:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...nt/social-insurance-contributions-from-abroad

Although it may not be an attractive option, you can return to work, and your full salary, one you are certified by your doctor as fit for work, probably 6 weeks after the birth. While it isn't common, I do know some selfemployed women who had to do this. If your husband is out of work, he can look after the baby.


Last but not least, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

 

[lowdenclear]

Thank you. You've put my mind at ease.

And thanks for the congrats!!