Minister Doherty urges new fathers to claim Paternity Benefit

As the first Anniversary of the introduction of Paternity Benefit approaches, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty, T.D. has launched an awareness campaign to encourage new or expectant fathers to apply for the two weeks payment from her Department. Employed and self-employed fathers with the correct PRSI contributions are entitled to receive Paternity Benefit.

Paternity Benefit is available from the Department of Social Protection to parents of children born or placed in adoption. Currently, it is payable at a minimum rate of €235 per week for two weeks for employees and self-employed people who are on Paternity Leave from work. It is available for up to 26 weeks after the child’s birth or adoption placement, and it is also available to same sex couples.

Minister Doherty said: “The purpose of Paternity Benefit is to support new fathers to take time off work within the first 26 weeks following the birth of their child.

New parents can choose to apply online for Paternity Benefit if they have a Public Services Card. Applications made online benefit from an automated decision process, where all conditions are fulfilled the person concerned will receive an award notification within seconds. Alternatively, anyone experiencing difficulty with making an online claim can contact my Department by e-mail and will receive a paper form. Full details are available here.

“I would strongly urge all eligible parents to consider applying for Paternity Benefit when they take paternity leave. It is a precious time for new parents and the Department recognises how important this stage of family life is for parents.

“It is important that we continue to work to eliminate barriers to employment and education so as to ensure that we can deliver a Republic of opportunity that is fair to all - Paternity Benefit is a small but powerful support for young families in achieving just that.

“This Government continues to prioritise the introduction of universal measures such as Paternity Benefit, affordable childcare and back to school allowances, with a view to supporting every family in this Republic. ”

Further information

To qualify for Paternity Benefit, a person must satisfy social insurance contribution conditions. The scheme is available to employees paying PRSI Class A, E or H contributions and to self-employed people paying PRSI Class S contributions.

Employees will need to give four weeks’ notice to their employer to qualify for the accompanying Paternity Leave.

Full information on Paternity Benefit and how to apply for the benefit and a Public Services Card is available online at www.welfare.ie

Statistics on the number of new fathers who have availed of Paternity Benefit since its introduction last September, follow:

PATERNITY BENEFIT AWARDED - Claimants by County Breakdown

County	Sept - Dec 16	Jan 2017	Feb 2017	Mar 2017	April 2017	May 2017	June 2017	July 2017	Total Awarded
Carlow	64	18	15	29	15	20	34	25	220
Cavan	75	39	29	43	39	29	46	46	346
Clare	107	31	31	66	39	49	76	60	459
Cork	634	206	224	295	184	298	415	346	2602
Donegal	155	38	53	60	53	71	90	67	587
Dublin	1345	465	463	645	434	655	912	812	5731
Galway	284	96	102	141	92	145	164	135	1159
Kerry	127	49	57	77	36	59	79	69	553
Kildare	234	88	94	108	84	127	202	115	1052
Kilkenny	115	44	43	45	27	51	50	53	428
Laois	65	29	31	29	31	54	48	32	319
Leitrim	43	11	10	13	12	15	15	19	138
Limerick	195	47	63	94	72	75	128	114	788
Longford	40	15	19	16	10	13	15	16	144
Louth	141	36	48	62	40	57	78	71	533
Mayo	144	39	36	61	36	71	67	77	531
Meath	209	71	80	103	68	97	145	100	873
Monaghan	69	22	16	34	21	22	41	41	266
Offaly	73	24	26	36	41	39	57	23	319
Roscommon	56	23	20	30	27	30	36	30	252
Sligo	71	25	24	32	20	34	43	35	284
Tipperary	151	59	54	65	49	72	102	82	634
Waterford	129	39	37	58	34	51	69	56	473
Westmeath	101	31	39	45	23	38	54	50	381
Wexford	140	54	42	58	52	81	98	72	597
Wicklow	145	67	48	76	40	70	97	68	611
Others	20	6	3	11	10	12	17	16	95
TOTAL AWARDS	4932	1672	1707	2332	1589	2335	3178	2630	20375

Minister Doherty urges new fathers to claim Paternity Benefit

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