AI Summary of 49. Rate of benefit.
This Act stipulates the weekly maternity benefit rate, differentiated by the date the benefit claim is initiated. For claims commencing prior to 6 January 2014, the benefit is the greater of either 80% of the woman's reckonable weekly earnings or her applicable illness benefit, subject to prescribed amounts.
For claims commencing on or after this date, the benefit defaults to the greater of her applicable illness benefit or a fixed amount of €289. Definitions of 'reckonable weekly earnings', 'reckonable weekly emoluments', and 'reckonable weekly income' include average incomes calculated per regulatory guidelines, ensuring clarity in benefit eligibility.
49. Rate of benefit.
(1) Subject to this Act, the weekly rate of maternity benefit shall be -
(a) in the case of a claim for maternity benefit where the first day in respect of which benefit is payable is before 6 January 2014, an amount equal to the greater of -
(i) 80 per cent of the reckonable weekly earnings, reckonable weekly emoluments or reckonable weekly income, as the case may be, of the woman to whom the benefit is payable in the income tax year prescribed for the purposes of this section, or
(ii) the amount of illness benefit, including any increases of that benefit, which the woman would otherwise receive if she was entitled to that benefit, or
(iii) any amount that shall be prescribed, for the purposes of this paragraph,
or
(b) in the case of a claim for maternity benefit where the first day in respect of which benefit is payable is on or after 6 January 2014, an amount equal to the greater of -