Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 61C

Conditions for receipt

Section 61C sets out the PRSI contribution requirements that employed and self-employed individuals must satisfy to qualify for paternity benefit.

• Employed contributors need 39 qualifying contributions since entering insurance, plus either 39 contributions (qualifying or credited) in recent contribution years or 26 contributions in each of the second last and third last complete contribution years.
• An alternative route for employees is having 39 qualifying contributions in the 12 months immediately before the relevant day.
• Self-employed contributors require 52 qualifying contributions in either the second last or third last complete contribution year, or in a subsequent complete year.
• Contributors who have moved between employment and self-employment can use their combined contribution history to satisfy the conditions.