Irish parents are entitled to benefits as part of their maternity and paternity leave.
Under the current laws, women can take up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave plus 16 weeks of unpaid leave while men are entitled to two weeks of paid leave. Both expectant parents get a standard weekly rate of €262 in 2023 but there is one lesser-known criterion that can halve your benefits.
In other words, if you are already receiving other social welfare payments you will be paid only €131 instead of the standard €262, the Irish Mirror reports. These include:
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- One-Parent Family Payment
- Widow's and Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
- Widow's and Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension
- Deserted Wife's Benefit or Allowance
- Prisoner's Wife's Allowance
- A Widow's Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Death Benefit Occupational Injuries Scheme
However, if you are providing full-time care to another person, you may get a half-rate Carer's Allowance with your full-rate Maternity Benefit. To qualify for the Maternity and Paternity Benefits, you must have:
- Enough PRSI (social insurance) contributions
- Certified maternity/paternity leave
You can find out more on the Citizens Information website.
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