Mat B1

[Rachey1969]

Can anyone help me out on this please? I am currently 23 weeks pregnant, I had thought that you could get your Mat B1 from 20 weeks,however my midwife is telling me that they are not allowed to issue them until week 26 (14 weeks before due date). My employer and particularly the faceless HR dept at head office (I work at home) tell me they need it as proof of pregnancy and for leave notice in week 25 (15 weeks before due date). I know this doesn't seem like a big deal but I don't want to do anything to jeopardise my maternity leave/pay which is quite generous.
Help please!

link

more info

Thanks for this Whizzz - it says on the link and I have read elsewhere on the net that it should be issued after week 20. However, midwife insists (and read something out to me over the phone) that it is now 26 weeks - maybe she can't tell her 6 from her 0!

Has anyone got their Mat B1 recently? I feel like an idiot making so much fuss but I don't want to lose my enhanced pay.

My GP issued mine really early, about week 18. i had to submit it before week 25 as well, as I was starting mat leave on week 29 and they need 4 weeks notice.I think its the law that you need to notify your employer that you are preg by week 25 - you can check it out on the web.

Why not ask your Gp rather than your MW?

Thanks Kristina, I really don't know what she's talking about - you definitely have to give work notice by week 25. The surgery just keep telling me to speak to her not a GP. I will persist today though - make an appointment if necessary! Maybe they will give me a bloody letter saying 'yes she is pregnant!' - what on earth is the big deal? Argh!!! (sorry in pain, sleep deprived and stressed this morning, want to give up work now!)

Sounds good - just make an appointment, smile nicely at Gp ( preferably male) and say you need your MAT1B form.If he says no, just cry.

Why are these things such a hassle?????? Sorry to hear you are in pain - are you having a crap pregnancy?

Here is a government site on mat leave

here

I would be tempted to print it off and show stupid MW, but you probably dont want to piss her off if you have to attend her for the rest of your ante natal care

To be fair to your midwife, it does say on the actual Mat B1 form that it should not be issued until the 26th week of pregnancy. i got my form at 24 weeks but only because i wasn't due to see my MW again until 29 weeks which would have been far too late for my employers. I didn't actually hand it in to my manager until i hit the 26 week mark. HTH.

My midwife wouldn't issue mine until dead on week 26. I had already informed my employer in writing and then informed the personnel woman where I work that the MAT B1 would follow at week 26. That seemed to do the trick. Don't panic - just write or speak to your employer and tell them what your midwife has said.

Thanks for all the advice. I work from home and HR are a faceless lot of admin staff with no personality! Our maternity policy is 23 pages long and the form you have to fill in seem like twice that as well as the threat to hand them your first born if you're a day out... I jest of course and will write them a crawling email to see if I can be excused...

My midwife issued mine at 20 weeks and apparently it is new guidlines.