Maternity allowance

[_Lexi_]

Well they closed down my jsa claim this week (I'm 31 weeks) and I started claiming income support. So at the moment I should be entitled to the sure start grant. You don't automatically go on to income support, you have to ring up and start a whole new claim, have another appointment etc etc. I told them at my appoitment that I would be applying for MA, but I hadn't as yet, she didn't seem concerned and carried on processing my claim for income support. Guess I'll see what happens when I go to pick up the forms for MA. x

 

[natasha82]

Well they closed down my jsa claim this week (I'm 31 weeks) and I started claiming income support. So at the moment I should be entitled to the sure start grant. You don't automatically go on to income support, you have to ring up and start a whole new claim, have another appointment etc etc. I told them at my appoitment that I would be applying for MA, but I hadn't as yet, she didn't seem concerned and carried on processing my claim for income support. Guess I'll see what happens when I go to pick up the forms for MA. x

Its all so complicated isn't it? I get so frustrated by it all, phone up one department for such and such benefit then phone another department with another question. Nobody seems to know what they're doing in my jobcentre lol. Its like you're expected to know how it all works, well this is all new to me and i have no idea when i'm supposed to claim for what haha. I hope you do get your grant hun and i hope i can get it too cos it would be such a big help to us and i bet it would be to you too. But you have up till 12 wks after baby is born to claim the grant - should your benefits situation change at all. I like to tell people this because i found this out and nobody offers to tell you this vital piece of information lol.

 

[_Lexi_]

Just wish I'd got round to applying for it sooner, but we were so worried lo wouldn't make it this far that we kept putting things off. x

 

[mrsb2010]

Hey Lexi you dont get the grant if you get maternity allowance so I'd stay on income support of there's not too much of a difference. Ive got to claim MA as I'm not entitled to SMP from my employers. You have to be on other benefits to be entitled to the grant xx

 

[_Lexi_]

Maternity allowance is about £65 a week (ish) MA is £129 (?) a week, so that's quite a difference. Just wondering if I can get the grant through, then go in to MA??x

 

[natasha82]

Hey Lexi you dont get the grant if you get maternity allowance so I'd stay on income support of there's not too much of a difference. Ive got to claim MA as I'm not entitled to SMP from my employers. You have to be on other benefits to be entitled to the grant xx

Hi i'm of the understanding that you cannot stay on income support if you are going to claim MA or SMP? I don't think you have a choice, if you've paid your NI contributions then you have to go on MA or SMP. Income support is for people who can't claim MA or SMP or were on JSA i think?

 

[mrsb2010]

Im not sure how it all works in relation to IS, I just know that I can't claim the grant and I'm getting MA. if you can't claim MA or SMP you claim ESA but not sure if that is the same as income support! But I'd look into it Lexi and work out which woll be best. Xx

 

[_Lexi_]

Hey Lexi you dont get the grant if you get maternity allowance so I'd stay on income support of there's not too much of a difference. Ive got to claim MA as I'm not entitled to SMP from my employers. You have to be on other benefits to be entitled to the grant xx

Hi i'm of the understanding that you cannot stay on income support if you are going to claim MA or SMP? I don't think you have a choice, if you've paid your NI contributions then you have to go on MA or SMP. Income support is for people who can't claim MA or SMP or were on JSA i think?

I was on jsa since November when I lost my job x