A question about maternity allowance?

[Babyfairy1984]

Hi everyone,

I am currently 11w4d pregnant and seriously considering leaving my part time job, I am just finding it too much, it is 2 30min bus rides away and rushing around is not helping my high BP which doctor has already signed me off for as it is a risk to baby, as well as it being a really stressful job.
So basically my question is if I leave now will I be entitled to maternity allowance (not mat pay). My due date is 13th April 2012 and it says you need to have been employed for 26 of the 66weeks leading up to the babys birth.
Thanks in advance.

 

[sevenmoons]

Hi I recently applied and have the notes for the form here

You can't claim until the 14th week before the baby is due, and if you claim before its born you need a MAT B1 form -from midwife

You may be eligible if you:

1- are Not eligible to SMP from employers ( you need a SMP1 form from employer to say they won't pay SMP)

AND

2- you have worked 26 out 66 weeks before due date

AND

3- you have earnt at least £30 a week

AND

4- you have stooped work to have your baby

They include a chart to work out your test period which you include on the main form for Maternity Allowance, if you send me your due date I can look it up for you.

For me it's bizarre as I've been a full time student for 3 years and technically haven't worked (only cash in hand work) I got turned down for the surestart grant, and so tried to get income support, but they said on the phone after a load of questions, that I wasn't entitled to income support but was entitled to Maternity pay even though I told them I hadn't worked for 3 years, I'm dubious that I am entitled to it, but have sent the form off anyway so will see what they say, sadly though I still can't get the surestart grant, as you have to be on jobseekers or income support to get the grant but not maternity allowance.

I think the surestart is available 11 weeks before the birth onwards, so if you are entitled apply as soon as you can

Good luck x

 

[Babyfairy1984]

Thanks so much, my due date is the 13th April 2012?
Yeah all these benefits are so confusing, never been entitled to any before so i'm clueless!
x

 

[xxembobxx]

If you look at the Maternity Allowance form it actually shows the test period they would take into account although it only goes up to 31st March 2012 so you'd have to add 2 weeks onto the dates.
https://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/ma1.pdf
On your due date I work it out that your test period is 2nd January 2011 to 1st April 2012.
If you have worked 26 weeks within this test period (and I calculate you have) and you earned at least £30 per week then you are eligible for MA.
Bear in mind that you can choose which 13 weeks they work out your MA rate on (they don't have to be in order) so if you could get extra hours and earn more before you leave it will make your MA pay higher as it is based on 90% of your average earnings.
MA is payable from 29 weeks of pregnancy so you would have to see if you're entitled to any other benefit prior to that date (perhaps SSP?)