Starting maternity leave after parental leave

I have an 11 month old baby and am currently 13 weeks pregnant with baby no. 2.
My maternity leave ended in April 2013, I received the state maternity benefit with no top up. I then took 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave from work. I am currently on 18 weeks parental leave which is due to expire mid December. Taking into account holidays I accrued during my unpaid leave I am due to return to work mid January.
However, in light of the cuts to maternity benefit in the budget, I wish to start my maternity leave, before the budget takes affect, at the end of December. I had planned to take an early maternity leave anyway. This would mean I am going straight from parental leave to maternity leave. Is this allowed? Can my employers question this? Will I still be classed as employed for receiving the benefit. On the MB10 maternity benefit form it asks for info regarding my prsi contributions for the last 12 months, how do I fill this in?

from citizens info "At least 2 weeks and not more than 16 weeks leave must be taken before the end of the week in which your baby is due"

so, it is my understanding that if your baby is due 16 weeks after December, your plan is perfectly fine & I cant see how your employer can object (especially as you received no top up)

If you take Maternity leave in December and have not used your accrued holiday leave, you may lose this leave. AFAIK, you cant roll this forward. You must take it immediately on completing the unpaid leave.

You could negotiate that you finish your parental leave early, and take your holidays before December. I don't know if your employer can refuse this or not.

As you been on unpaid Mat leave and Parental Leave, you have credited PRSI contributions for every week. I am not sure how to fill this in on the form.
Have a look at the rules here about paid and credited PRSI contributions.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e..._families_and_children/maternity_benefit.html

huskerdu said:

If you take Maternity leave in December and have not used your accrued holiday leave, you may lose this leave. AFAIK, you cant roll this forward. You must take it immediately on completing the unpaid leave.

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Whether unused holiday leave can be carried forward would depend on the contract of employment. I don't see why it would have to be taken immediately after unpaid leave?

If it cannot be carried forward then you will have to try to end your unpaid mat leave early and go back on payroll.

I also took 2 maternity leaves without actually returning to work in between a few years ago and there was no problem - I got the full rate of mat ben on the second leave.