Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 58

Entitlement to and duration of adoptive benefit

Section 58 sets out the definitions, qualifying conditions and payment rules for Adoptive Benefit.

• Adoptive Benefit is a social insurance (PRSI) payment for adopting parents who are either employed contributors or self-employed persons
• To qualify, the adopting parent must be entitled to adoptive leave (or hold a certificate of placement) and meet the PRSI contribution conditions (section 59)
• The benefit is payable for 24 weeks from the day of placement, with special provisions applying where the adopting mother dies before or after placement
• Payment is calculated at one-sixth of the weekly rate for each day (excluding Sundays), and if employment ends during the benefit period, entitlement continues unaffected