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Original poster

Maternity allowance claim

16 replies

xjeax · 15/10/2018 09:48

Has anyone recently made a claim for maternity allowance? I sent my form and all my evidence off on 20th September. I recieved a text on the 25th September to say they will send a decision in 6 weeks time... which will be week commencing 5th November. I’m due on 29th October. I’m now left with no income and no way of making any money. I’m struggling. I’ve had to borrow money just to survive, I still need to buy a few baby items. Bills are starting to go unpaid. Does it really take the full 6 weeks before I will find out from DWP? 😣😰

OP posts:
Baby1onboard11 · 15/10/2018 10:02

Just been through this exact situation and mine was exactly 6 week wait!! BUT they do backdate to the date you requested. You get sent another form about entitlement asking to confirm what date you wanted it to start from and then with about 2-3 days a letter with confirmation of payment schedule

Baby1onboard11 · 15/10/2018 10:05

In my original application I put I didn’t want maternity to start until end of October as I was expecting to work right to the end. On the sheet they sent id already been off work so put it to week 29.. (the earliest you can request it) which was August some time. They backdated me to then.

Original poster
xjeax · 15/10/2018 10:09

I requested for it to be back dated from the day I sent the form off.. 20th September at least it’ll be backdated so I can pay family back, just feel awful having to ask people to lend me money. 😣😰

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Baby1onboard11 · 15/10/2018 10:16

Have you since received the form telling you your weekly amounts? This is the one that comes after the 6 week wait? You also receive a text confirming payments. You get a new form that you have to (Freepost) back (just to confirm when you want the money from) then it takes 5-10 days to go into your account.

I was exactly the same and it’s a horrible feeling but you’ll hopefully be okay soon

Original poster
xjeax · 15/10/2018 10:20

No haven’t recieved anything apart from a text on 25th September to tell me i’ll hear about a decision in 6 weeks time. I have no income, no way of paying bills, still need to buy baby items which is my main worry too! I’m 3 weeks into the 6 week wait 😣

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Stuckforthefourthtime · 15/10/2018 10:26

That sounds awful. I know nothing about the DWP bit but do know that a lot of churches, the Salvation Army and local charities including Home Start will be able to give or loan you baby items while you wait, and potentially help out in other ways. You don't need to be a church member to benefit from any of this. Please do get in touch with them asap - it's already a stressful enough time without worrying where the next meal or your Moses basket is going to come from.

Congratulations on your new arrival to come, and hope things are sorted quickly.

Baby1onboard11 · 15/10/2018 10:27

Do you have a partner who can provide? Or have you got everything you’re entitled to benefit wise? Sure start grant?

I’m on allowance because I fell pregnant just before my job started but luckily my partner is supportive and just left me his card (although it’s not a nice feeling).

If youre certain you are definitely entitled, Can you look into an interest free overdraft for time being?

The number for maternity allowance is 03456088610 and you’ll need your national insurance number. Perhaps they can speed it up?

Stuckforthefourthtime · 15/10/2018 10:27

Meant to say above - have you been open with your midwife about your situation? If not, call your community midwife number right away and be clear that you are not able to pay bills, let alone buy baby items - they are a good first port of call and will be able to refer you to help. Flowers

Original poster
xjeax · 15/10/2018 10:37

I don’t have a partner unfortunately, so it’s me providing everything.

I’ve been told to look into making a claim for universal credits. I’m unsure how it works I’ve never claimed benefits before it’s so confusing.

I’ve applied for the sure start grant but got declined been told to reapply once baby is here.

I’ve tried applying for loans/overdrafts... my credit rating is awful. Currently looking into going through a DRO to sort out my debts.

Thank you for the number, I will call them now and see if they can sort anything out

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Original poster
xjeax · 15/10/2018 10:41

@Stuckforthefourthtime

Thank you. I’ve spoken to my midwife, and HV the midwife came round to see me at home and truthfully said these not really much she can help with because I have all the essentials... they have a scheme here where the midwifes can provide a Moses basket full of baby items but I have all that type of stuff all she can do is recommend using eBay, Facebook and charity shops.

OP posts:
Baby1onboard11 · 15/10/2018 10:47

definitely apply for universal credit, it can be done online. I personally don’t think universal credit is bad at all and I live in a town that it was first rolled out too. It does take 6 weeks for the first payment though which is utterly disgraceful but besides that, when I was receiving UC, I never had any issues. You can request the first payment is paid earlier for hardship purposes.

Also go to your local citizens advice bureau as they’ll be able to help you work out what/if you’d be entitled to anything. You could potentially missing out on a lot of help. To get The sure start grant you have to be recieving some benefits so it’s defo worth going. Also go on entitledto.co.uk and input your financial situation to see if you can get help.

I hope everything works out for you and best of luck/congratulations with the baby

Original poster
xjeax · 15/10/2018 10:53

I’ve literally only just found out about UC on another website. I was unawear of it and told I wouldn’t get any help because I can’t claim income support or JSA as I’m classed as employed on MA... but by the looks of it UC is different. So confusing 🤦🏼‍♀️ All this stress and I’m going back to work in January by times it’s all sorted i’ll be back working.

Yes the sure start grant you have to be on benefits... I’m not on any of the qualifying benefits so got declined and told to reapply once baby is here.

I’ll give CAB a call and see what they can help with. Thank you. X

OP posts:
Original poster
xjeax · 16/10/2018 10:20

I’ve been onto entilited too website and done a benefits calculator. According to UC I won’t be entitled to any support. I have no income as I am waiting for MA. My rent and bills are being affected and I’m getting myself into debt. What other help is there 😭 This stress is awful. Rent is due in 2 weeks and parents have informed me today they can’t help me any longer money wise. 😣

OP posts:
FizzyMakeFeelNice · 16/10/2018 10:29

I've read somewhere about a zero income form you can get from the job centre for situations like this. Worth looking into?

Original poster
xjeax · 16/10/2018 10:32

I will call the job centre and find out. Thank you

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 17/10/2018 09:15

Even with maternity allowance you will need other benefit income to top it up so there's no harm in commencing a Universal credit application now. Then at your first interview you can ask for an advance ( like a loan that you pay back over a number of months). Then when maternity allowance comes through it will just be deducted pound for pound from your UC amount. When your baby is born you add him/ her to your Uc claim.

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