Maternity allowance processing time. FYI

[Horehound]

Just thought if anyone has a claim in and they haven't heard anything from the DWP yet to save you the hell of calling..
The hold time before you get through is about 1 hour. As of today, they are looking at claims received from 4th july so therefor about 12 weeks processing time.
I wouldn't bother calling unless it's surpassed 12 weeks of sending in your application.

Also thought it might be good if other posters use this thread in future to keep others updated and save everyone going out their mind listening to the hold music!

What a good idea, I need to apply for maternity allowance soon and remember it being an awful process last time. Is the earliest you can apply when you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks?

"You can start your claim from the 26th week of your pregnancy. The earliest you can get your first payment is 11 weeks before your baby is due."
Says Google :)

Bloody hell that is awful! My eldest was prem and I had to apply after birth and the wait was around two weeks if memory serves - shows how bad things have got!

Yep! It also sounds like their systems and processes are terrible. Not an optimal use of time.

I had to phone them last week, first three times I called I didn't even get through! Everytime it would hang up on me.
Fourth time I got through to hold, an hour and a half I was on hold for until I gave up!

Yep this is the problem. The call line is so long because they are terrible at providing correct info. Like if they just put on the initial recorded message that applications are taking 12 weeks, most people would probably hang up so less for them to deal with and then they can get on with reviewing the applications. Although it sounds like the call handlers just deal with the calls and the reviewers are a different team. How ridiculous. So, so many people are calling that it takes the team who deal with the calls over an hour to answer! Probably just to tell me that the process is delayed. It's mind boggling!

Hey, has anyone called DWP recently, just wondering what claims they are currently looking at?