Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Maternity Allowance

11 replies

nuttygirl · 04/01/2007 17:58

I've just sent off the forms to claim Maternity Allowance (am 27 weeks today). Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to process a claim? It's just the post around here can be a bit unreliable and I don't want to wait for ages thinking it's the benefits ppl being slow if it's got lost in the post.

OP posts:

Report

feedmenow · 04/01/2007 20:58

Can't really help, but maybe you could give them a call early next week on the pretence of "checking its arrived cos of the terribel postal service" and then while you're onthe phone enquire about timescale.....?

Report

hairycaterpillar · 04/01/2007 22:27

I cant claim this time but did for last two pg's and found they replied really really quickly. Not sure if it varies with where you are though...i am in Scotland.

Report

bambi06 · 05/01/2007 19:13

can u get this if self employed?

Report

hairycaterpillar · 05/01/2007 19:19

yes I claimed in my first two pg when i was self employed. it is for folk who pay NI but are not entitled to SMP.

Report

bambi06 · 06/01/2007 17:10

so how do you claim if self employed and from when? thanks

Report

laundrylover · 06/01/2007 17:17

They sorted my claim out really quickly and I did it the week before I popped! They juist paid them straight into my account.
Bambio you can pick up a claim form from jobcentreplus but read it carefully as it's not really aimed at self employed people and seems very complicated. Basically if you have done your returns and are paying NI you will be entitled to the maximum of just over £100 per week (wow!!) and do not have to provide any evidence of income. BTW MA is not taxable when you come to do your next return.

Report

hairycaterpillar · 06/01/2007 19:10

or here is a link to online form and more information.

maternity allowance

Report

CanSleepWellSometimes · 06/01/2007 19:15

A few weeks IIRC. I know I was quite late in getting round to filling out the forms, but I was only about a month late in getting some money (I did have correspondence from them in the meantime).

bambi - there is some info about it in the NHS Pregnancy book that every woman is given by their midwife, so also suggest taking a look there.

Report

RubyRioja · 06/01/2007 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dressedupnowheretogo · 06/01/2007 19:17

i had to send my forms in three times so if i were you i wuld hand deliver it but it took one week for 108 quid to be in my bank

Report

nuttygirl · 06/01/2007 20:47

Thanks for all the info. Really hope it doesn't get lost as had to send in originals of payslips etc and it would be a real hassle if I had to try and get those again. Will ring them on Monday perhaps to check it got there.