Maternity Allowance

[nuttygirl]

I've just sent off the forms to claim Maternity Allowance (am 27 weeks today). Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to process a claim? It's just the post around here can be a bit unreliable and I don't want to wait for ages thinking it's the benefits ppl being slow if it's got lost in the post.

Can't really help, but maybe you could give them a call early next week on the pretence of "checking its arrived cos of the terribel postal service" and then while you're onthe phone enquire about timescale.....?

I cant claim this time but did for last two pg's and found they replied really really quickly. Not sure if it varies with where you are though...i am in Scotland.

can u get this if self employed?

yes I claimed in my first two pg when i was self employed. it is for folk who pay NI but are not entitled to SMP.

so how do you claim if self employed and from when? thanks

They sorted my claim out really quickly and I did it the week before I popped! They juist paid them straight into my account.
Bambio you can pick up a claim form from jobcentreplus but read it carefully as it's not really aimed at self employed people and seems very complicated. Basically if you have done your returns and are paying NI you will be entitled to the maximum of just over £100 per week (wow!!) and do not have to provide any evidence of income. BTW MA is not taxable when you come to do your next return.

or here is a link to online form and more information.

maternity allowance

A few weeks IIRC. I know I was quite late in getting round to filling out the forms, but I was only about a month late in getting some money (I did have correspondence from them in the meantime).

bambi - there is some info about it in the NHS Pregnancy book that every woman is given by their midwife, so also suggest taking a look there.

i had to send my forms in three times so if i were you i wuld hand deliver it but it took one week for 108 quid to be in my bank

Thanks for all the info. Really hope it doesn't get lost as had to send in originals of payslips etc and it would be a real hassle if I had to try and get those again. Will ring them on Monday perhaps to check it got there.