Maternity pay etc UK please help

[cupcaker]

Hi, I feel like I've done very little about payments relating to having a baby. The only thing I did was give my employer the 'Mat B1' (???) paper or whatever it was they required once signed by the midwife. I got a letter back from my employer confirming it went though etc, so I'm assuming that's all set up to pay me the maternity rates etc over my maternity leave. That's all I've done though.

Do you have to 'do' anything to receive the standard maternity pay/child benefit etc? I really am clueless about benefits etc..never had them always just had a job and had whatever I was paid only. I don't want to miss out on things though over my maternity leave when money will get a bit tighter.

thanks in advance xxx

 

[Mrs_Bump]

I too have just submitted my MAT1B at the moment. Your employer should send that off for you so as long as that was done in time you shouldn't need to do anything else for your statutory maternity pay to start. In terms of child benefit I beleive you will be given a form in your bounty pack, in the hospital once you've had the baby, that you have to send off, unless anyone knows any different I think that's it, or I hope it is.

 

[RKW]

Hi, I think it depends how long you have been at your current employer. If you have been there for over 6 months I think you get SMP which is paid by your employer not the government. It will be £135 a week, after 6 weeks of 90% pay. (or maybe more depending on tour company) which will be paid how your normal pay would be, eg monthly if that's what your company do. If you have not been at your employer for that long you need to apply for MA which is maternity allowance. It's the same amount at £135 but paid by the government not your work.
I think essentially if you have been there over 6 months you don't need to take any further actions, if you have not then maybe look into it a bit further.

 

[RKW]

Yes - also child benefit form is in your bounty pack, and paid into your bank account once forms are filled in. I believe it gets back dated to when baby was born if it takes them a while to get it sorted.

 

[baileybubs]

Hi, all I have done so far is give my employer the MATB1 form. As far as I am aware that will mean that as long as your employer has sent that off you will get statutory maternity pay straight away when you go off. As for child benefit yeah I have read the same as other posters, that you will get the info for that when you get your Bounty pack at the hospital after baby is born.

Does anyone know anything about working tax credits and child tax credits though? My partner only earns 15k so I am sure we can get something extra, I just don't know how I apply for this. I do know that usually you have to be persistent though and make sure you tell them that your financial circumstances have changed as they usually work out tax creits based on your previous years earnings.

 

[Kaybee]

If your employer cant pay you SMP they should have told you already. Reasons for them not paying is usually length of service.

You should get the child benefit form in your hospital/bounty pack.

Once you have had baby phone tax credit office and they will ask for last tax years income and then tell them that your circumstances have now changed and you should be able to give them an estimate of the current tax years income.

 

[2wantedpls]

If I recall correctly you need to have registered your baby before applying for benefits?

 

[Pixiegirllily]

You need baby registered indeed. A good website for benefits is familynest, very simple calculator. But all benefits relating to baby you need to wait for baby. SMP is just done like you would of got paid, same payday, amounts may fluctuate depending how many Saturdays there were in that period x

 

[cupcaker]

Thank you, all extremely helpful xxx

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks ladies, much help! So as a first time mum, am I best just waiting til she's born before applying for tax credits then? Coz if I apply now I am still getting full pay (using holiday pay at the moment) and it will only be by the time she's born that my finances will have changed down to only £135 per week SMP.

 

[Pixiegirllily]

Yes you need baby first for child tax/benefit. And you process it on 2012/13 household earnings, once that's been confirmed you call back up and give an estimate for 2013/14 earnings, including how many weeks mat leave that includes and they readjust your payments. On mat leave they don't include the first £100/wk or something like that in your earnings x

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks pixie girl, I thought as much. I just feel like I should be doing something about it already lol!! But seen as little missy is due on THE DAY the new tax year begins it actually makes even more sense to wait til she's here to apply once I get my p60!

 

[Pixiegirllily]

I'm hoping my renewal form is processed before my April baby then I can process the update along with new baby x

 

[2wantedpls]

Yer or use your march payslip for you years totals if your p60 is delayed. Like mine usually is.

Also work out what your gross earnings is before you ring cos they won't work it out for you. Or didn't for me.

For every week you are on maternity leave you deduct the first £100 of the pay , so say 39 weeks @ £100 = £3900 off your gross earnings. No idea why they do this!

Also register with child benefit 1st cos I think that the tax credits link up to them which makes it faster processing.

 

[baileybubs]

Thanks!

I'm assuming as well that when giving them my predicted annual income for 2013-14 it's best to assume I'm going back to my current job full time so I don't end up getting too much tax credits and then owing them? Coz at the mo I'm thinking I'll probably only go back part time and at a lower level if seniority, but I can't guarantee that will be the case!