Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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585. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the waiting times for maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20143/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Maternity Benefit is paid by my Department to women who have made sufficient paid PRSI contributions and who are in insurable employment up to the first day of their maternity leave. My Department received 45,280 claims in 2016 and a similar number is expected this year.

The Department is currently experiencing some delays in processing claims in advance of their maternity leave commencement date. As claims are processed in leave commencement date order it is not possible to give an accurate timeframe for the processing of individual claims. However, the average time to process a paper claim is 6 weeks. Processing claims by leave commencement date order ensures that those whose maternity leave is imminent receive priority.

While the majority of claims are ready for payment in advance of the customer commencing her leave, regrettably, there are a number of customers that receive their first payment up to 3 weeks after they commence their maternity leave.

Actions have been taken to ensure that claims are ready for payment in advance of customers commencing their leave. Additional resources are being assigned and staff have been working overtime to ensure as many claims as possible get processed and paid by their commencement date.

My Department has also recently developed a new online service at MyWelfare.ie. Customers can now apply for online Maternity Benefit using this website (www.MyWelfare.ie). This channel is the fastest and most convenient way to apply for Maternity Benefit and customers can receive a confirmation of their award of benefit, within minutes, where their claim has met with all the conditions of the scheme.

Availing of this claim option will ensure that the customer receives a prompt decision and timely payment of maternity benefit.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.