Yonder, the all-in-one platform to automate health insurance and retirement benefits for growing teams, today announced it is working with Irish Life to enable companies and their Irish employees to easily administer and enrol in local health insurance and pensions.

Yonder makes it effortless for businesses to provide core benefits, such as health insurance and pensions, to employees regardless of where they live. The platform is the only 100% digital way for companies to enrol and manage their employee's core benefits. We partner with insurance and investment providers globally to streamline the creation and day-to-day management of health insurance and workplace pensions for companies and their employees. By offering the flexibility to allocate per-region health budgets or pension contributions, companies can easily scale their hiring without being slowed down by benefits administration or localisation.

In Ireland, Yonder will exclusively offer Irish Life health insurance and pension products to its clients. This means that companies and employees using the platform can easily access comprehensive coverage and investment options set-up in minutes. Irish Life will benefit from the additional digital channel to attract small and scaling companies. Employees can enrol and manage their health insurance and pension easily and with the flexibility to choose their own products with the Yonder mobile app.

Yonder’s vision is to become the one-stop platform for companies' core benefits globally – taking on a fragmented and paper-heavy industry. By working with firms like Irish Life, Yonder is engaging with the highest-quality providers to expand its presence in local markets while also serving a wide range of countries via international health insurance. 

 and find out why modern People and Finance teams are switching to Yonder.

Irish Life and Yonder Partner to Enhance Benefits for Growing Teams

Irish Life works with Yonder to make corporate benefits  more accessible to growing businesses

Maternity Benefit is an Irish social welfare payment for expectant mothers on maternity leave. 

Think of it as an allowance for new moms.

But you’ll receive this maternity allowance only if you have:

Let’s discuss these eligibility criteria in detail.

To qualify for Maternity Benefit in Ireland, you must have:

1. Sufficient Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) Contributions

PRSI is a compulsory contribution or payment to Ireland’s Social Insurance Fund and is the primary source of social welfare payments. 

Your contribution depends on your salary and occupation — aka your 

Presently, there are 11 PRSI classes covering employees and people who are self-employed or working outside of Ireland. The A, E, H, and S classes count for Maternity Benefit.

a certain number of paid social insurance contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit.  

Employees on maternity leave must have a minimum of 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid for a 12-month period before the first day of their maternity leave.

You must have 39 weeks of PRSI credited in the relevant tax year or the year after.

You can also qualify for Maternity Benefit if you’ve made at least 26 weeks of PRSI payments in the relevant tax year and the year before.

Self-employed people (in insurable employment) must have a minimum of 52 weeks of PRSI contributions at Class S in the relevant tax year.

You must have at least 52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the year before or after the relevant tax year.

Is your maternity leave beginning in 2023?

If you’ve been working (in insurable employment) in the UK or a country governed by EU regulations, you must have paid a minimum of one full-rate PRSI contribution in Ireland. The contribution depends on your pay period, which can be weekly, fortnightly, and monthly. 

You must also have paid your most recent PRSI contribution in Ireland to qualify for Maternity Benefit.

Here’s what you’ll need to receive a certified maternity leave:

You’ll need a doctor’s certificate confirming when your baby is due. 

MB2: Employer Certificate for Maternity Benefit.

 form certified by your employer, even if your contract of employment ends or has ended within 16 weeks before the end of the week your baby is due.

For self-employed workers, the doctor must fill out the claim form 

MB3: Medical Certificate for Maternity Benefit form

Read everything about Maternity Benefit here.

1. What Is the Rate of Payment for Maternity Benefit?

If you qualify for a full-rate Maternity Benefit, you’ll receive a social welfare payment of €262 a week for 26 weeks, excluding Sundays (156 days).

2. How Long Do I Get Paid Maternity Benefit?

For full-term pregnancies, Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks or 156 days (Sundays aren’t counted). 

Employees must apply for Maternity Benefits at least six weeks before their intended maternity leave. If you’re self-employed, you should apply at least 12 weeks before your maternity leave begins.

 and ensure you have a verified MyGovID account. 

You can also submit a physical application by sending the relevant documentation via post to:

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

Give Your Employees Additional Maternity Coverage with Yonder

If you’re an employer, you have to manage a host of other employee benefits in addition to their pay — like health insurance and retirement contributions. 

, you can automate employee health insurance and retirement benefits. 

 or even add extra perks, like fertility add-ons.

and help your employees take ownership of their health coverage.

How to Qualify for Maternity Benefit in Ireland: Eligibility, FAQs

Maternity Benefit is a payment women receive from Ireland’s Department of Social Protection (DSP) while on maternity leave from their employment.

This provides them with an income during the final weeks of pregnancy and the weeks after giving birth.

But what’s the deal if you’re self-employed?

Do Self-Employed People Qualify For Maternity Benefit?

People who are formally employed or self-employed in Ireland pay PRSI contributions. 

To qualify for Maternity Benefit, self-employed individuals must meet the following contribution conditions over a 12-month period:

Learn more about the PRSI contributions for Maternity Benefit.

To certify your maternity leave, ask your doctor to fill out a Medical Certificate for Maternity Benefit (MB3 form) and approve the expected due date for the birth of your baby. 

Your doctor will not charge you for filling out the MB3 form. 

The MB3 form has to be signed and submitted along with your Maternity Benefit application form (MB1).

Your application will be processed when you send in the Maternity Benefit forms. If approved, you should receive your Maternity Benefit payments from the first week of your maternity leave.

Is Maternity Benefit for Self-Employed People Taxable?

Maternity Benefit in Ireland is liable to a 20% Income Tax for employed and self-employed people. 

However, Maternity Benefit is not subject to Universal Social Charge (USC) and PRSI.

4 FAQs About Ireland’s Maternity Benefit

1. How Much Is the Maternity Benefit Payment?

 — paid for 26 weeks of maternity leave, as provided in the Maternity Protection Act of 1994. 

A self-employed person may only qualify for a half-rate Maternity Benefit if they have eligibility for a full-rate Maternity Benefit and receive one of the following social welfare payments:

In addition to the 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, employed and self-employed people can take an extra 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave if necessary.

3. What Happens in the Case of a Premature Birth?

If you have a premature birth before your maternity leave starts, the maternity leave instead begins from the date of birth and carries on for 26 weeks plus an additional period.

This extra period is the time between the baby's actual birth date and the day you had initially planned to take leave before your expected due date.

Suppose you planned to take your leave 2 weeks before your expected due date, but your baby arrived 2 weeks earlier than your expected maternity leave date. 

Then, you’ll get 26 + 2 weeks of maternity leave from the date of birth.

If you have a miscarriage or a stillbirth, you have an entitlement to 26 weeks of benefit, provided that the child’s birth weight is at least 500 grams and you meet the PSRI requirements.

4. Are There Other Benefits Offered by the Department of Social Protection?

The DSP provides benefits like Child Benefit and Health and Safety Benefit in Ireland. 

Expectant and new fathers can also receive paternity leave alongside Paternity Benefit. 

However, the number of weeks for paternity leave and the amount for Paternity Benefit vary from maternity leave and Maternity Benefit.

Seamlessly Manage Your Employee Benefits With Yonder

Ireland’s Maternity Benefit can help you as a self-employed individual on maternity leave. 

 needs — for doctor consultations, pregnancy scans, etc.? 

 and self-employed individuals set up their core employee benefits in a snap — minus all the faff. 

 and take ownership of your employee benefits in Ireland!

Can You Get Maternity Benefit if You're Self-Employed in Ireland?

Access Health Insurance in 30 European Countries

If you’re building an exceptional team, you’re no longer constrained by where to hire your people. There are so many ways you can expand globally and employ the best talent. However, when it comes to offering financial benefits, like health insurance, to remote employees – to put it simply, it sucks. It’s sub-par coverage, lacks optionality, and you must jump through numerous hoops to cover your people. Plus, it’s decentralised, manual and not user-friendly for employees. 

We’re centralising financial benefits so modern companies can automate and scale effortlessly, and employees can take ownership of their protection and savings.

Today, we’re announcing that we now offer International Health Insurance in over 30 countries in Europe with Allianz Care. Now companies and their people all over Europe can provide access to core benefits like health insurance right in Yonder. 

 start at €71.66 per month and include €1.8m of maximum benefit coverage – with free cancellation.

A superior international benefits experience

Employees will be invited to the Yonder mobile app and can pick from a selection of plans – either fully or partially subsidised by their employer. Employees are empowered to take ownership of their coverage and select a plan and add-ons that matter most to them. They can add their dependant(s) or spouse when they find the right plan. From here, they’ll be given a quote and get enrolled. All of their essential coverage information is available within Yonder, and they can find what they’re covered for and, if needed, make a claim.  

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. 

Financial benefits are timely and expensive. Let us help with both. Book a demo 

Yonder Technology Limited is a Tied Intermediary of Tailored Finance Limited for Insurance and Pensions. Tailored Finance Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

International Health Insurance is provided AWP Health and Life SA, trading as Allianz Care

Now Offering Health Insurance in 30 European Countries

Now offering Health Insurance in 30 European Countries	

The Maternity Benefit contact number in Ireland is (01) 471 5898.

Let’s discover how an expecting mother can find more information about Maternity Benefit eligibility, application, and more.

Maternity Benefit Contact Number and Address in Ireland

Maternity Benefit is a social welfare payment made to pregnant women and new mothers who meet the eligibility criteria.

If you want to apply for Maternity Benefit in Ireland or seek information about it, you can reach out to the Maternity Benefit Section of the Department of Social Protection:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/apply-for-maternity-benefit/

For further information on Maternity Benefit, PRSI contributions, and other social welfare payments (like Paternity Benefit, Child Benefit, Carer’s Allowance) in the Republic of Ireland:

But as an employer, you’d want to extend more comprehensive health insurance support to your team, right?

Besides, you can support your team members even if they don’t have the PRSI contributions required for Maternity Benefit.

Once employers decide on their contribution, employees can pick plans with maternity coverage per their needs.

, an employee on maternity leave can get home birth coverage of up to  €4,000 and three nights of public hospital accommodation.

They can also choose from several add-on benefits, like coverage for antenatal classes, breastfeeding consultancy, etc.

 to simplify employee benefit management?

What Is the Maternity Benefit Contact Number in Ireland?

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.

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. 

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

2. MB2 Form (Employer Certificate for Maternity Benefit)

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

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.

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

However, entitlement depends on three requirements:

 form and submit it, together with the other relevant documentation, to the following address: 

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

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.

 to pregnant employees on top of Ireland’s Maternity Benefit, why not consider 

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

What Maternity Benefit Form Do You Need to Submit in Ireland?

👋 I’m Cillian. For the past 7 years, I have worked in tech as both as an employee and as a founder of my own company. During this time, I have been involved with the development of a wide range of projects, from online bidding platforms to health and fitness marketplaces, in both full stack and front-end engineering roles.

I’m a senior frontend engineer responsible for designing and developing our employer platform. I have been here for a year now, and the system we have built in that time is nothing short of incredible. I’m excited to show the world what we have in store for the next 12 months.

What’s the best thing about working for Yonder?

Working on challenging problems with a team of skilled and fun colleagues is definitely a highlight!

At some point in their career, everyone wants or needs health/pension benefits, so having the opportunity to positively impact so many people is very exciting to me.

What is the biggest problem you want to solve within Yonder?

Whenever I have had to interact with benefits software, whether on the web or on my phone, I have come away feeling frustrated and underwhelmed. The processes are opaque and can be confusing to those who are unfamiliar with them. Additionally, the applications themselves are hard to use and missing basic features. The software that is out there at the moment is woefully under equipped to meet the needs our our generation.

My goal is to help create something that is easy to understand, educational, and enjoyable to use. By doing that we will help people make informed and rational decisions about their finances.

Cillian | Frontend engineering

Meet our team: Senior Frontend Engineer, Cillian Barron

Maternity Benefit in Ireland is financial support given by the government to new mothers on maternity leave from work. 

A pregnant woman may get a full-rate (€262/week) or half-rate (€131/week) Maternity Benefit. 

How Much Is the Maternity Benefit in Ireland?

In Ireland, a pregnant woman eligible for full-rate Maternity Benefit is 

 for 26 weeks or 156 days, excluding Sundays. 

A claimant is entitled to get half-rate Maternity Benefit 

 if they already receive certain social welfare payments, such as:

However, if you have adult or child dependents, you may get a higher rate of payment.

Suppose you’re entitled to the standard Maternity Benefit of €262. 

And let’s say your partner is unemployed and has signed on for unemployment credits. You also have two children below 12 years. 

If you received an Illness Benefit, you would get €450. 

This includes the base Illness Benefit + the Increase for a Qualified Adult + Increases for two Qualified Children below 12.

Since the Illness Benefit amount is greater than the standard Maternity Benefit (€262), you’ll receive Maternity Benefit of 

You aren’t entitled to an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) if the adult dependent receives a social welfare payment. But you may receive a half-rate of Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC). 

The rate may also change based on the income of the adult dependent. 

1. Who is Eligible for Maternity Benefits?

Here’s the eligibility criteria for Maternity Benefits in Ireland:

You can also get the full 26 weeks of basic Maternity Benefit payment (subject to PRSI contribution conditions) if:

To apply for Maternity Benefit, applicants can either: 

 with a verified MyGovID account and upload supporting documentation, such as a completed MB2 or MB3 form, proof of PRSI contributions, etc.

Fill out the offline Maternity Benefit forms and send them to:

Maternity Benefit is directly paid into your bank account or building society current or deposit account starting the first week of your maternity leave. 

But if your employer pays you during maternity leave, you could have the benefit directly paid to your employer’s bank account.

4. Will I Be Eligible for Benefits if I Take Additional Maternity Leave?

You can take up additional 16 weeks of maternity leave at the end of the 26 basic maternity leave. However, this is unpaid maternity leave and doesn’t include extra Maternity Benefits.

5. Does a Father Get Paternity Leave and Benefit?

Fathers may get two weeks unpaid and conditional paternity leave if their spouse or cohabitant is expecting. 

 payment to help cover costs during this period.

6. What Other Benefits Can You Avail As Parents?

As parents, you may get other entitlements like:

Hassle-free Employee Benefits With Yonder!

The Irish Government’s maternity allowance supports expecting mothers. 

However, as an employer, you would want your employees on maternity leave to have more comprehensive maternity support.

Yonder simplifies employee health insurance — no broker hassles, paperwork, or admin overheads!

For instance, employees get home birth coverage for up to  €4,000 under the 

. They can also choose add-ons, like a maternity extra for additional coverage for flu vaccination, antenatal classes, etc.

 and provide the maternity support your employees need!

How Much Is Maternity Benefit in Ireland?

👋 I’m Elaine & I have spent the last 20 years working in various Compliance roles in Financial Services, with the last 10 years in the Insurance industry.

I lead the Compliance function and have been building our Compliance Framework for the last 7 months. Compliance is a number one priority in Yonder, and nothing happens unless we are 100% sure we are in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.

It’s quite a challenge but the culture we have embedded here is one of Compliance and to do the right thing at all times by the customer.

I really enjoy working with the team, everyone works hard and everyone is committed to making Yonder great. We all step outside of our comfort zones and challenge each other on a daily basis so that we can build something new and unique.

Working in a highly regulated industry can be challenging for innovation and new ideas. What I am trying to do, with the help of the team, is to ensure we stay compliant while also offering a service that is is fast, streamlined and gives a great customer experience.

Our target market want to buy products in a different way - they are not so keen on traditional processes that involve lots of forms and paperwork, so we are filling this gap to make sure that no customer is left behind. Importantly, we’re staying compliant in the process so customers know they can trust us with their money and their benefits.

Elaine | Compliance

Meet our team: Head of Compliance, Elaine Kinsella

Maternity Benefit in Ireland is a social welfare payment to support employed women, per the Maternity Protection Act 1994.

Your eligibility for Maternity Benefit depends on whether you have enough PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) contributions, which fund social welfare payments.  

The contribution amount depends on your pay, and the total contribution consists of two parts — the share you pay out of your own salary, and your employer’s share. 

Let’s explore the contribution conditions for employees, self-employed women, and previously employed women — whether employed locally or internationally.

How Many PRSI Contributions Do You Need for Maternity Benefit?

The PRSI contributions you need to qualify for Maternity Benefit depend on your contract of employment or PRSI class. 

Check the list below to find the requirements that apply to you.

 Some of these requirements are based on your 

. The relevant tax year is the second last complete tax year before the year your maternity leave and Benefit start. 

For example, if you take maternity leave in 2023, your relevant tax year is 2021.

A woman under insurable employment needs to have 

To qualify for Maternity Benefit, your last day of work (before maternity leave) must be within 16 weeks of your baby’s due date.

So, you can qualify for Maternity Benefit if you’ve recently quit your job (less than 16 weeks ago). But you should meet the social insurance contribution conditions for employed and self-employed people, depending on the applicable PRSI classes.

If you are (or were) self-employed, you need to have 

Self-employed people can’t claim PRSI Class S contributions until they’ve paid the 

So, you must pay your PRSI contributions 

Irish Life and Yonder Partner to Enhance Benefits for Growing Teams

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