Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2024
269. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection to investigate the case of a mother (details supplied) who has been denied maternity benefit, despite having the necessary contributions. [30622/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMaternity Benefit is a payment made for up to 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on maternity leave from work and who satisfy certain qualifying conditions including social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions on their own insurance record.
To qualify for Maternity Benefit, a woman must be in insurable employment that is covered by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, immediately before the first day of maternity leave and she must meet certain PRSI contribution conditions listed in the governing legislation.
Claimants who are not EU/EEA citizens are required to have a GNIB/Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card and a work permit, if necessary, to work in Ireland. Any employment performed without the required permissions to be employed in Ireland is not reckonable for PRSI purposes.
The person concerned applied for Maternity Benefit on 23 August 2023 with their maternity leave to commence on 15 August 2023. The IRP/GNIB documents provided do not cover the qualifying or relevant tax year fully and do not cover the start date of the Maternity Benefit claim. Therefore, her claim for Maternity Benefit was disallowed. The person concerned can send any further documentation to the Maternity Benefit section for consideration.
The person concerned has lodged an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office in relation to the decision and the appeal will be considered in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
