John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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876. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for maternity benefit. [20549/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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An application for maternity benefit was received from the person concerned on 16/06/2020.  One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of maternity benefit is that the applicant must have been in employment with a last day of work within 16 weeks of the end of the week in which her baby is due.  The person concerned has not been in insurable employment during 2020 and as a result she does not fulfil this condition and is not entitled to maternity benefit.  A decision letter issued to her on 16th June informing her that her claim had been disallowed as she did not satisfy the employment conditions for the scheme.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.