Where can you find the form to apply for Maternity Benefit in Ireland?

Well, there are three Maternity Benefit forms, and you’ll have to submit two in order to apply — depending on your employment situation.

Below, you’ll find:

• The MB1 form to apply for the Maternity Benefit for yourself.

• The MB2 form for your employer.

• The MB3 form for your doctor (if you’re self-employed or unemployed).

Further Reading

• Find out what Invalidity Pension is and how you can apply for it.

• Discover the many Employee Benefits in Ireland that make an employer more appealing to work for.

• Embracing parenthood for the first time? Find how Paternity Benefit can help you in this journey.

Irish Maternity Benefit Forms

If you want to apply for Maternity Benefit in Ireland, you must submit a filled-out MB1 form and either a filled-out MB2 or MB3 form.

You can find each of them below.

1. MB1 Form (Maternity Benefit Form)

Any person — whether an employee or self-employed — who wants to apply for Maternity Benefit must complete a Maternity Benefit Application Form (MB1).

You must:

• Submit the completed MB1 form with your personal details to the Maternity Benefit Section of the Department of Social Protection.

• Apply six weeks before you go on maternity leave.

• If you’re self-employed, you should apply at least 12 weeks before you go on maternity leave.

• Download the MB1 form here

2. MB2 Form (Employer Certificate for Maternity Benefit)

Employees who apply for the Maternity Benefit must ensure their employer completes the MB2 form.

The employer must:

• Complete the form after the employee’s 24th week of pregnancy.

• Fill in the employee’s expected due date and their maternity leave dates.

• Include the employer’s bank details (The bank account that the employee authorises the Department of Social Protection to make payment for the Maternity Benefit to the employer.)

• Download the MB2 form here

3. MB3 Form (Medical Certificate for Maternity Benefit)

If a person is self-employed or unemployed, their doctor must complete an MB3 form after the 24th week of pregnancy.

• Download the MB3 form here

For more information, read our complete guide to Maternity Benefit.

3 Maternity Benefit FAQs

1. Do I Qualify For Maternity Benefit?

Maternity Benefit is one of the social welfare payments expectant mothers can claim.

However, entitlement depends on three requirements:

• You must have enough PRSI contributions and be in insurable employment (one liable for social insurance contributions) up to the first day of your maternity leave. Your PRSI contributions (National Insurance) should fall under one of these PRSI classes — Class A, E, H, or S.

• If you’re employed, you must have certified maternity leave from your employer.

• Your maternity leave starts at least two weeks (and no earlier than 16 weeks) before the end of the week of your baby’s expected date of birth.

2. How Do I Apply For Maternity Benefit?

• Submit an online application (MB1 form) at MyWelfare.ie. You’ll need a verified MyGovID account to use the MyWelfare application.

• Complete the application and upload the required documents (either an MB2 or MB3 form).

Alternatively:

Complete a physical MB1 application form and submit it, together with the other relevant documentation, to the following address:

Maternity Benefit Section

Address: Department of Social Protection, McCarter’s Road, Ardaravan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, F93 CH79

Telephone Number: 01 4715898

LoCall: 0818 690690

3. Can I Apply For Extra Maternity Leave?

If you have any annual leave due or have missed bank and other public holidays, you can use these days to extend your maternity leave.

Once you have taken these leave days, you can apply for an additional 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.

This extra unpaid maternity leave begins immediately after your 26-week period of maternity leave ends.

Empower Your Team With Scalable Benefits From Yonder

Download and complete the maternity forms and follow our advice when applying for Irish Maternity Benefit.

And for employers that want to offer extra maternity care to pregnant employees on top of Ireland’s Maternity Benefit, why not consider Yonder?

Yonder streamlines employee benefits management — you can enrol, control, pay, and scale core benefits all in one place!