Stopping universal credit for mat allowance

[worrying587]

I took the plunge into self employment in August 2019 - unfortunately, due to coronavirus restrictions my job was affected and because I'd paid no previous tax years self employed I had to claim universal credit to support my children.

My maternity leave was due to start in July 2020 so when the restrictions were eventually lifted my son was born so I was taking time for maternity leave. My initial plan was to claim maternity allowance but my circumstances didn't allow for this. My situation has now changed so now it is in my best financial interest to claim maternity allowance.

I'm just unsure whether it is possible to swap from universal credit to maternity allowance. Im also three months in to my maternity leave so not sure whether that affects anything either. I do meet all the conditions of being able to claim.

Does anyone have any experience or advice? Is it possible to do this? Any advice or experience is greatly appreciated!

You can claim them both alongside each other but the maternity allowance would be deducted pound for pound from the Uc anyway so you won't be better off unless the MA works out more than what you are getting in UC ?

Thanks for your reply @Babyroobs it's definitely what I need to do, my circumstances are due to change and maternity allowance will be my only income. I was just making sure it's still possible for me to claim 3 months on and I won't be without an income while taking time for maternity leave.

@worrying587

Thanks for your reply *@Babyroobs* it's definitely what I need to do, my circumstances are due to change and maternity allowance will be my only income. I was just making sure it's still possible for me to claim 3 months on and I won't be without an income while taking time for maternity leave.

I'm not sure whether there's a problem claiming 3 months on. perhaps ring MA and ask. Don't stop the Uc claim, if the MA is more then Uc it will just stop anyway.