I've tried reading all the notes and leaflets, I've downloaded every pdf on the internet (or so it feels) and my brain is now utterly minced.
For the last 22 months I've been working in a retail job. That job now no longer exists as the company are going under and I, along with my colleagues, have all been made redundant.
I'm 31 weeks pregnant.
Work did know I was pregnant (obviously, I have a fairly substantial bump now) and I had told the MD in person that I was pregnant but as we were given notice that we would be losing our jobs I never handed in my MATB1 or received an SMP1.
The directgov website says that MA is for people who are employed, self employed or who have recently been employed but are not eligible for SMP. That would suggest I am eligible. I worked enough weeks in the test period, earned over the threshold etc.
I know that really I should just bite the bullet and call to make an appt at the job centre but it's a PITA getting into town atm and last time I had dealings with them they were about as useful as chocolate cups so I was hoping to be able to make my claim directly to the offices on paper and cut out the middle man as it were.
Does anyone have a bit of insight here before I go mad and just shove all my documents in a big envelope and post them to some poor unsuspecting office worker in Yeovil?