A single woman living in Enniskillen and employed in Dundalk for approximately 3 years.  She was pregnant and wanted to understand where to claim maternity payment.

As a frontier worker she pays social insurance (PRSI) via her employer’s payroll system, this means that Ireland is responsible for her maternity payments.

She can claim Maternity Benefit for 26 weeks, and when that ends it is possible to take a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Further information is available on the Department of Social Protection website – Maternity Benefit

As a frontier worker she is also entitled to access healthcare, including maternity care, in Northern Ireland.

Page last checked: 1 March 2023