Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004

Maternity benefit — amendments.

8.—(1) The Principal Act is amended in section 37 (as amended by section 12 of the Act of 2001)—

(a) in subsection (5)(b)(i) by substituting “2 weeks” for “4 weeks”,

(b) in subsection (5)(c)(ii)(A) by substituting “sixteenth week” for “fourteenth week” in each place where it occurs,

(c) in subsection (5)(c)(ii)(B) by substituting “sixteenth week” for “fourteenth week” and “twenty-fourth week” for “twenty-second week” in each place where it occurs, and

(d) by inserting the following after subsection (5):

“(5A) Regulations may provide for the postponement of the payment of maternity benefit in the event of the hospitalisation of the child in respect of whose birth the person is entitled to that benefit, subject to such conditions and in such circumstances as may be prescribed.”.

(2) This section shall have effect in respect of persons whose entitlement to maternity benefit commences on or after the commencement of this section.

(3) This section comes into operation on such day as the Minister may appoint by order.

(4) An order under subsection (3) of this section may, if the order so provides, have retrospective effect.