Maternity benefit payment delay ‘adding to stress’ of parents

Delays in paying maternity benefit to women due to give birth have been described as “unbelievable and unacceptable” and as “adding to the stress” of parents awaiting a new arrival.

Figures from the Department of Social Protection, which processes the payments, show a backlog of more than 2,850 claims waiting to be processed. Of these, 1,300 women have already commenced maternity leave. The delays have been ongoing since the first week of February.

Early Childhood Ireland said that for some people, maternity benefit is the only source of income while on maternity leave.