Maternity Leave & Benefit Entitlement If you become pregnant while in employment in Ireland, you are entitled to take maternity leave. The entitlement to a basic period of maternity leave from employment extends to all female employees in Ireland (including casual workers), regardless of how long you have been working for the organisation or the number of hours worked per week. You can also avail of additional unpaid maternity leave. If you start maternity leave on or after 1 March 2007, you are entitled to 26 weeks’ maternity leave, together with 16 weeks’ additional unpaid maternity leave. At least 2 weeks have to be taken before the end of the week of your baby's expected birth and at least 4 weeks after. You can decide how you would like to take the remaining weeks. Payment during maternity leave You may qualify for Maternity Benefit which is a Department of Social and Family Affairs payment you have sufficient PRSI contributions. 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, in general, at least 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the second last complete tax year before the year in which your maternity leave commences. For example, if you are going on maternity leave in 2007, the relevant tax year is 2005. If a tax year later than the relevant tax year has ended before the start of your maternity leave (in this case 2006) contributions in that tax year may be used to help you qualify for maternity benefit. or At least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and at least 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year prior to the relevant tax year. This provision applies to you if your maternity leave began on or after 23 March 2001. If you failed to qualify on the basis of the contribution conditions up to 23 March 2001, you are only entitled to claim maternity leave for any period of unexpired certified leave after 23 March 2001. If you are self-employed you must have: 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year before the year in which your claim is made or 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year prior to the relevant tax year before the year in which your claim is made or 52 weeks PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year later than the relevant tax year (applicable from April 2002) If you are now self-employed but you were in insurable employment before you became self- employed, the PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) paid by you in that employment may help you qualify for Maternity Benefit if you do not satisfy the self-employment conditions as stated above. How the amount of Maternity Benefit is calculated: If you are employed, your weekly rate of Maternity Benefit is calculated by dividing your gross income in the relevant tax year by the number of weeks you actually worked in that year. 80% of this amount is payable weekly, subject to a minimum payment of €207.80 and a maximum payment of €280.00. (The Relevant Tax Year is the second last complete income tax year before the year in which your maternity leave starts). If you are self-employed, your weekly rate of Maternity Benefit is calculated by dividing your gross income in the relevant tax year by 52 weeks - 80% of this amount is payable weekly, subject to a minimum payment and a maximum payment. You need to apply for the payment 6 weeks before you intend to go on maternity leave (12 weeks if you are self-employed). You can download the required maternity benefit form from: http://www.welfare.ie/forms/mb10.pdf Postnatal Care
6weeks post birth. Infant Care Services The GP who attends the mother also provides care for the new-born baby. This entails two developmental exams during the first 6 weeks following the birth that are free of charge. The baby's entitlement to free GP services depends on whether the parents have a medical card. This means that visits to the GP for any conditions related to the baby's health during this six week period or afterwards are not covered by the scheme unless the parents have a medical card. Breastfeeding support If you are having problems with breastfeeding or if you have any worries or questions about breastfeeding your newborn, there are lots of sources of help and information available to you. You can call your maternity hospital or your Public Health Nurse. You can find mother to mother support and information through your local La Leche League group. For more information, visit: http://homepage.eircom.net/~lalecheleague/ You can seek the support of a Lactation Consultant. For more information contact ALCI: www. alciireland.com Or you can contact us in confidence via email: support@aimsireland.com |
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