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MATERNITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS due from the Department of Social Protection are currently mired in a backlog extending for “a number of months”.
One woman, who is due to go on maternity leave from early June, has been told that it will be some months before her application for the benefit is processed.
Ordinarily, those eligible for State maternity benefit are instructed to apply for it at least six weeks before they plan to go on leave (12 weeks if they are self-employed).
In this case the woman in question applied for the benefit fully nine weeks before her maternity leave is due to begin.
In correspondence with the Department of Social Protection seen by TheJournal.ie, the woman was last week informed, two weeks subsequent to her application, that “it will be a number of months before we get to your claim”.
“It is not possible to give an accurate date of process,” the woman was told by a department official.
That official added that “maternity benefit claims are processed in commencement date order and, due to backlogs, we are currently processing claims commencing (on the) 3 April”.
Given the department is only now processing claims dating from over two weeks ago, it seems likely that some women who have already given birth (most maternity leave commences roughly two weeks before a baby is due) will yet to have received their own benefit.
In response to a query from TheJournal.ie regarding this matter a spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection apologised “to any customer who has experienced a delay in getting their maternity benefit and want(s) to assure customers that every effort is being made to ensure all claims are processed as quickly as possible”.
“The Department is making every effort to ensure that customers are paid in a timely manner and improvements to systems and work practices are being made in order to reduce delays,” they said.
To alleviate delays, extra staff have been assigned and are working overtime. The Department also facilitates online applications for maternity benefit and an automated decision issues where the customer submits all necessary information and where the detail provided can be validated.
Clarity was not given as to how many people are affected, or as to when the backlog is expected to be cleared.
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Amazing that you win one match, and you get into the qualifers
@The Firestarter: the would have got in even if they lost against France, tho likely unseeded
@The Firestarter: what are you talking about?
@The Firestarter: kinda hard not to qualify
@The Firestarter: zzzzzzzzzz
@john kenny: zz
Big hard man Damien O’Sullivan giving pelters to women who have achieved more in their lives than he ever will. Damien, you are a troll on the Internet and these woman are representing their country. They stand head and shoulders above people like you. Let that sink in.
@Sun Rise: As ever you are brave behind your keyboard and fake name. The fact you call people trolls while trolling the internet behind tells a lot about the person behind the account.
@Ger Whelan: you are a vicious piece of work. He is defending the womens team show respect boy.
@Sean Money: was it Putin’s fault the girls didn’t win all their games?
@Ger Whelan: you are a sick puppy. Be happy Ireland won.
@Sean Money: Erm they didn’t win . They finished bottom of their group with 1 win out of 5 games. Hardly worth celebrating
@Sun Rise: I reported you just now.
Hopefully the last comment you’ll ever make on this.
I repeat. The current team is useless they were much better under Vera. Constructive criticism, not some misogynistic agenda you’re pushing.
Suck on that.
@Sun Rise: God help the team if they have likes of you ‘looking out’ for them.
You’ll be hearing from the Journal soon. Bye bye a*****e.
Good draw
They’re useless
@Damien O’Sullivan: i hope your talking about FFG,,,
@Damien O’Sullivan: Damien give that phone back to your mother until you mature a bit like a good little boy.
@James Leahy: Just criticising the current team. They were better under Vera.
Why don’t you run off and troll elsewhere fool. You have no idea what you’re talking about
@james rowan: Yeah them too
Nobody is interested in women’s soccer, it’s just not very good
@Auld Lad: 16 000 in Pairc Ui Caoimh.
@Auld Lad: another Immature small boy pretending to be an Auld lad.
@James Leahy: oh look, here’s the white Knight on his steed, getting offended on behalf of women everywhere
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: been to bigger raves
@Auld Lad: yeah we can tell…oh the irony
@Auld Lad: doubt you’ve left your mother’s basement in the past ten years.
No stopping them now after they beat France so easily
have your say