Maternity allowance

[_Lexi_]

Getting a bit confused by maternity allowance. Am I right in thinking that we pick any 26 weeks from the 66 weeks before due date, and we should pick the 26 weeks where I earnt the most. Right?? Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!! Just thought with the baby coming any day, should probably get it sorted. Any one know how long it takes for the money to start coming through??c

 

[Clareybeary]

Yes, pick the weeks you earnt the most, then they'll give you the lower of the two.

 

[karla1]

Yeah that's right. I have just filled in my form today and will be posting it tomorrow I was told it can take 2 weeks but then also told that's if no back log which there might be due to xmas x

 

[_Lexi_]

Do i just get the form from the jobcentre?x

 

[kat2504]

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869
There's a link on this page to download the application form.

 

[_Lexi_]

Thank you!! Getting so disorganised. Arranged income support, filled in the form ready to post back sure start grant, once I've sorted maternity allowance, is that everything or have I missed something?x

 

[amy19604]

yes thats right, send them the payslips where you earnt the most including any overtime etc, after my last baby my mat allowance was actually more than my normal wage was because they based it on the months i'd been doing loads of overtime.

 

[nikki79]

child benefit form, you could have it filled out ready.

https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/ch2-online-stubb.htm

 

[_Lexi_]

Thank you everyone hopefully I can get everything filled in and sorted its not easy trying to figure out what exactly you're entitled to!x

 

[Kyliem87]

I only had to send 13 weeks worth of pay slips in within the "test period" - I think my test period was something like November 2010 - March 2012 (66 weeks before the baby is born). I don't know if it's different if your out of work but the 26 week thing was I had to have worked a minimum of 26 weeks within the 66 week test period but didn't have to provide pay slips for all of that. I also had to send my Matb1 form in along with my SMP1 form from work but at the end it tells you on the MA1 form from the jobcenter/jobcenter website which documents you need to include for each scenario.

 

[_Lexi_]

Thank you hopefully I can pick the forms up tomorrow. It's annoying, I was at jobcentre Tuesday to sort out income support and completley forgot about it x

 

[Kyliem87]

Your test period will pretty much be the same as mine hun and I've just had a look on the back page for you and it says...

Everyone - You must send the original, not a photocopy of a Maternity Certificate MAT B1. See page 5 of the Notes sheet.

If you have worked for an employer You must send us original payslips for the 13 weeks you choose. See pages 7 and 8 of the Notes sheet

The only thing you can't send is SMP1 cause you're no longer employed so if you can get all that sorted, they will let you fill it in at the job center tomorrow and they will send it off for you, saves you having to go back out and post it off etc. Have a look through the form so you know all the information you will need (you need your payroll numbers for each job you have worked in for the 66weeks test period etc) and maybe it won't be a wasted trip back down if you can get it all sorted and signed.

 

[superwoman11]

I will bbe claiming maternity allowance. Can you caim maternity allowance and income support at the same time?

 

[Kyliem87]

I will bbe claiming maternity allowance. Can you caim maternity allowance and income support at the same time?

No, it's 1 or the other as far as I know they stop any other entitlement like income support/job seekers allowance and you receive maternity allowance in it's place

 

[_Lexi_]

I've just come off jobseekers and onto income support. They asked if I was claiming MA yet and I just said I hadn't sent off for it, but I was going to. They didn't say anything about it being one or the other?x

 

[Kyliem87]

I found this for you both...

Effect on benefits or tax credits

Tax credits and Disability Living Allowance are not affected by Maternity Allowance.
But while you're getting Maternity Allowance and any of the following benefits - they may be reduced or stopped:

Bereavement Benefits
Carer's Allowance
Council Tax Benefit
Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Jobseeker's Allowance will stop

It's all on here:- https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

 

[bubbles19]

I will bbe claiming maternity allowance. Can you caim maternity allowance and income support at the same time?

No, it's 1 or the other as far as I know they stop any other entitlement like income support/job seekers allowance and you receive maternity allowance in it's place

I'm claiming both the woman at job centre filled out both forms for me over the phone at the same time and sent them to me with bits i needed to complete or change and sent off my bits and bobs that go with it. i sent off the income support one first as i was still waiting for my SMP1 form and i have my first payment of income support tomorrow and im still waiting to here from maternity allowence due to a back log from xmas xx

 

[bubbles19]

thought i'd add i only get £189 a month from my job and work only 5 hours a week so they may by why i can get both. my income support is £53 a week x

 

[Kyliem87]

thought i'd add i only get £189 a month from my job and work only 5 hours a week so they may by why i can get both. my income support is £53 a week x

I have no idea but on the government website it says jobseekers is stopped and income support may be reduced or stopped. I suppose it depends on how much of each you receive etc. Benefits are confusing and as I don't receive anything I can only go by what I read online, but obviously it's all circumstantial and depends on everyone's situation individually. I just know for now I get MA as I switched jobs - continuously employed for 4years but started at my current work place to soon to receive SMP and once baby is here I *think* I am eligible for child tax credits, child benefit and working tax credit but I'm not counting anything and will see what happens when I apply once baby is here.

 

[natasha82]

I got told by the jobcentre and by reading the information that you can claim Jobseekers allowance up until 29 wks pregnant, then you automatically go on to Income Support. But if you are going to claim Maternity Allowance or SMP then you cannot claim Income Support as well. You have to claim MA or SMP from 29 wks if you are eligable to claim it (if you have been on JSA) and if they can sort out the payments in time. I also thought i may be able to get the Sure Start Maternity Grant but apparently you are only entitled to that if you are on one of the following benefits, one being income support. But because i will be claiming MA then i wont be getting income support which is a bit silly i think, so i'm not sure you will be entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant if you are going onto MA? But if you aren't entitled to the grant yet, you can try again once you have had baby. Because the other benefits that entitle you to the grant are tax credits and/or child tax credits, so it is defo worth trying again if you don't get the grant now.