pregnant and part time, am i entitled to anything?

First time using this so i hope its helpful..
Im 5 1/2 months pregnant and wrking part time 2 days a week. I need to know what or if im entitled to any money coming in while im on maternity leave.. How does any pregnant woman get by???

laneyba said:

First time using this so i hope its helpful..

Click to expand...

otherwise you've wasted your time posting!

A read of key posts might be helpful to you:

http://www.askaboutmoney.com/forumdisplay.php?f=53

If you have enough PRSI contributions then you should be entitled to Maternity Benefit, check out the citizens information website for more details (i'm only new on here, so i can't post the link to it)

There are also other welfare supports once the baby is born (One Parent Family Payment, Family Income Supplement), but one step at a time

Also www.welfare.ie for Maternity Benefit conditions; some links posted here too in keyposts. Are you signing for other days? See Redundancy and Unemployed forum for loads of inof on JB/JA

I only work 12-18 hours a week and I got my maternity benefit based on my earnings in 2008 (I went on mat leave in Dec 2010) I couldn't believe that I would get it but it seems if any of the following applies to you, you will also get it...

Maternity Benefit is paid by the Department of Social Protection to women who have a certain number of paid PRSI contributions on their social insurance record and who are in insurable employment up to the first day of their maternity leave. The last day of work can be within 16 weeks of the end of the week your baby is due.
The PRSI contributions can be from employment or self-employment - PRSI classes that count for Maternity Benefit 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 at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year or in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2011, the relevant tax year is 2009 and the year following that is 2010.

Or

• At least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2011, the relevant tax year is 2009 and the year before that is 2008.

If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were self-employed before starting work as an employee, you can use your Class S contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit - see PRSI conditions for self-employed below.

If you are self-employed you must be in insurable employment and have:

• 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2011, the relevant tax year is 2009.

Or

• 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2011, the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year is 2008.

Or

• 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2011, the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year is 2010.

PRSI Class S contributions for a particular year are not awarded until you have paid tax due for that year. Your income tax and PRSI liabilities, for any year you are self employed, must be paid to qualify for Maternity Benefit.
If you do not meet these PRSI conditions and you were in insurable employment before becoming self-employed, you can use your PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) in that employment to qualify for Maternity Benefit – see PRSI conditions for employed above.
You may also be required to submit your accounts or a statement from your accountant for the current year to prove that you are self-employed and liable to pay a Class S contribution.