benifits advice, job seekers or sick?

[rosiedays]

I was 'let go' from my job last month (with a months notice paid) and have been job serching since but found nothing. now my notice period is up and i need to sign on (never done before!!!) the thing is i don't really feel well enough to work! my pregnancy is not without complications and i have days when i couldn't possably work! I cant clame maternity allowence till 26 weeks (curently 17 weeks)
I dont know how the system works. who should i can call to get advice. should i apply for job seekers or get a sick note from DR? if i get sick note who do i take it too?? will not working now efect the amount of maternity alowence i get?

Make an appointment at the job centre and speak to an adviser, they will know exactly what to do. Good luck :) x

It is very very difficult to claim sick these days. My sister with drug induced psychosis, a 24 hour carer in a home, on a cocktail of meds was declared fit for work

Citizens advice bureau can be very good. They may even be able to send someone out to see you, especially as you are pregnant and sick. You shouLd go and see your dr as soon as possible, explain the situation and he will record your sickness on your medical notes. You will be able to get some financial help, if you really need it, so don't worry.

From six weeks before your due date to two weeks after the birth, you can claim ESA on the grounds of being pregnant without having to pass a work capability assessment.

On the CAB website I found this:

"If you qualify for Maternity Allowance, you may also be entitled to ESA from 11 weeks before the baby is born and up to 15 weeks afterwards. You can also get ESA if you are pregnant and there is a serious risk to your health or that of your child if you continue to work."

Whether your circumstances mean there's a "serious risk" or not, I couldn't possibly judge.

I'd advise contacting Citizens' Advice rather than the jobcentre, because frankly there's no guarantee your jobcentre will have the slightest idea. I was claiming jobseekers until I hit 29 weeks just before Christmas, and asked three or four different advisers on different occasions during the autumn how pregnancy and jobseekers worked, and whether and when I'd qualify for income support, and so on. None of them had a clue.

Rosie were you let go from the job because of being pregnant? If so that is discrimination and you can take them to employment tribunal.