CM club or anyone who can help

[pol26]

I need some help!
Not sure if I am entitled to maternity allowance or not have just scraped, I think into the barrier of working 26 out of the 66 week test period.
Also if I have an expemtion certificate for NI does thins mean I will only get £30 per week or the 90% of my average earnings..... Help!!!
Any advice about mat allowance that you got or are entitled to will help... p.s i'm a registered minder so do they take self employement from when you got your ofsted cert and could legally take children or when you physically got your first child and were paid???

Selfemployment would begin when you register as selfemployed with Inland Revenueand and started paying NI contributions. If youve been paying ( or are exempt from paying NI )then you are automatically entitled to the full £108 a week if you have paid (or exempt for relevant period). Im just back at work after maternity leave. I also got a surestart maternity grant of £500 ( you get the form from the job centre and are entitled as long as you get or will be getting at least the family element of tax credits, (can apply after childs born if you dont get tax credits till then)
Im going to find the website for you with the details. Ill be back with it soon.

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

ok that didnt link so got to www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Then pick customer from front page and then working age benefits. All teh details are there and you can download the forms too.