Class 2 NI contributions in relation to claiming Maternity Allowance

[mummybuckley]

Hi.

Not sure if anyone can reassure me a bit here. I started work again due to financial strains at home and re-registered as self-employed in September (long maternity leave with first child) and arranged at that time to start making class 2 NI contributions. Quite recently I have discovered I am pregnant and am now worried as the Class 2 NI contributions are collected in arrears, will this affect the 13 weeks payment within my test period if I claim MA? The first payment covering the first week of September for £2.50 will not go out of my account until 9/12/11! Then every 4 weeks after will be the regular £10/£12.50 payments. By the time I put my claim in, I will technically have only covered about 8 weeks worth of payments even though I registered to pay from 5th September.

I know it says on the DWP MA page that 'Where self-employed NI contributions are paid by direct debit, they are treated as having been paid on the due date, even though they are actually paid monthly in arrears'. But what does that actually mean? I have tried calling them all morning but keep getting cut off as too busy and I'm driving myself loopy with worry! Does that statement mean that by the time I claim in February as far as they are concerned I am up to date with payments even though they are collected in arrears?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Thanks

mummybuckley :)

Can anyone help?

From the DWP info you've posted, I would read that as you have been considered as having paid as your DD is set up, even though the money isn't actually taken.

Mine are paid quarterly so I pay £62.50 (or something similar) every three months rather than monthly - is that an option so that you can get them up to date (in your own mind)

So would they take the first payment straight away if it were quarterly? I could pay that yes.

I have from now until January to make this quarter's payment, and then the next bill will come through - you just get told to pay it before X date.

I am looking at starting my ML in January, so this is something that I wanted to be up-to-date with myself!

That's great. Thanks :)