Applying for UC whilst on maternity leave

[dustyabode]

Hi all,

Wondering if there are any experts out there who could help?

Mrs dustyabode and I are currently trying to complete a joint/linked application for UC. We have not claimed any benefits previously and could do with a bit of advice. We are both employed but Mrs dustyabode has begun the final 3 months of maternity leave and will receive no pay or maternity allowance for this period. This would seem to mean that we qualify for UC and Scottish Child Payment (we have 3 children under 6yo). On the online form for earnings it asks: Approximately, how many hours do you work in a week?....should my wife put down her usual hours here fro when she is in work or 0 because she currently is on maternity?
it then asks: How much do you usually earn?.....again, should this be what her salary was the last time she received it in full or what she is earning right now (0)?
If they look at her normal earnings then we will not be entitled, but there seems to be no option to declare you are on maternity leave and earning nothing. There are options to tick if you are receiving Maternity Allowance/Statutory Maternity Pay, etc, but these no longer apply as she gets nothing currently?

Any UC award will be based on what is reported to DWP from HMRC so it won't matter too much what you put down. I would put zero and then once your UC journal is up and running you can leave a message explaining the situation and that the zero hours is only temporary. The only problem their tends to be is if your older children are still in childcare whilst your partner is on mat leave - they sometimes won't help towards childcare costs for those 3 months as you are not both working , wheras whilst she is receiving smp, she is classed as employed.

Also sometimes if you cannot verify your ID online, you are asked to go to the jobcentre to verify ID/ take documents so you could explain the situation at that appointment.

thanks, Babyroobs.

I can put '0' for hours but the form doesn't allow '0' for earnings...it just comes up as an error. I guess i have to put her normal pay down? But then, if I'm putting her normal pay down maybe I should put her normal hours?

Put what she 'usually' earns/works. It won't matter that it's currently different as they take figures direct from HMRC, nit from what you put on the form.

And usual hours too?

Yes

Yes it doesn't really matter either way. They will just take earnings from HMRC figures so if she has no earnings reported, any Uc awarded will be based just on your earnings. They add up all the elements you are eligible for then make deductions based on reported earnings in your monthly assessment period.