Baby could come within a week still no maternity allowance!

[sophieeleanorxx]

Afternoon! I've been waiting for my maternity allowance to be back paid for weeks on end now. I was on universal credit for a month after leaving my job so they are waiting to hear back from universal credit to find out how much I've had from them. They sent that request of on the 3rd of October I called this morning he said they will chase it up today they have already told me I've been granted £139.58 a week. Anyway I've just got home from the midwife and I'm 2cm dilated and have been having contractions but irregular she thinks he will be here within a week I'm now worrying because if I go into labour all I have is £10 no food in the cupboards for me or anything. I call up everyday for a update and nothing has changed I have been very soft on them! Is it worth ringing again in a few hours and being abit pushy?

Thanks xx

My local CAB has a drop in (no appointments required) open every day. As long as you arrive closer to the start than the end, you get seen and helped straight away. There is also a phone line and the advisers ask questions then call back, usually within half an hour.

Of course it depends on the branch, they are all different, but mine is not slow.

I was hoping to move back up north but maybe I'm just being unrealistic as I can't seem to get a deposit together. I have really good supportive friends up there I didn't realise how depressed I would be moving back to my mums. She isn't supportive at all and I don't have any friends down here.
If I get my own council place down here il be on my own my mum wouldn't bother to come and see me! So I just don't know what to do.

What's changed since you decided to move back to your hometown to be near your mum? Were you hoping she'd be supportive and she hasn't? Do you think it's because you've been living with her - maybe if you moved out, but lived nearby, things might improve?

If you think that's unlikely, perhaps you could apply for housing in the place you were living before, instead. You will need to check the council's "local connection" rules but if you were living there for a few years you should meet them.

Anyway, you don't have to sort that now. The urgent thing is getting your benefits and finances sorted. Oh and the small matter of having your baby

Good luck with it all xxx

Some MPs can be very helpful in dealing with benefits claims. Some employ benefits advisors. CAB is a safe bet though. Please don't take a pay day loan, it will cost you so much and only increase your stress levels. I agree food bank is a good idea, maybe they'd accept a referral from your midwife if they won't do self referral.

Mine took 8 weeks. I phoned after 2 weeks, they'd lost my forms and said it could take up to 6 weeks and it did. It was such a stressful time, I hope yours will be quicker.
You will be fine, try not to stress about it, you'll have to ask your Mum for her support. The midwife won't be able to help you.

Hello again! I have been on the phone to maternity allowance AGAIN! They have proceeded it to team leader or universal credit or something to speed it up they still haven't replied. I've been in tears today because I'm absolutely skint now! can't even afford to put my petrol in my car to get to my midwife appointment tomorrow. I have spoken to citizen advice on webchat today I would have gone to my local one but I have managed to come down with a nasty cold aswell as not being able to even get there. He has told me to make a complaint with maternity allowance I'm going to call up today before 6 but I just don't know what to say. As I know it's not really there fault it is universal credits for not reply to anything. My mum can't afford to lend me any money I'm just eating whatever she eats when she eats because I can't afford to get my own food.
Any tips on what I should say I'm the phone? I can't go another week or two with money I really can't :(

This is why I advised physically going to the CAB, they can actually phone on your behalf to get it sorted. Anyway, if you're going to phone I think you just need to say that you'd like to make a complaint and go from them. Tell them the date you first applied and the fact that you have no money and are struggling.

Have you applied for the Sure Start Maternity Grant yet? (Link in my first post)

Go from there

Do I have to make an appointment or just walk in? I had the grant already at 29 weeks which was fast and straight forward. That went all on baby things though didn't go very far.

It depends on your local branch, look it up here: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-we-provide-advice/advice/search-for-your-local-citizens-advice/
Then check their opening times etc.

Just realised there is one 5 minutes away! Will pop in tomorrow morning. Thank you x

You're welcome Good luck, I'm sure they will be helpful x

Just called to make a complaint and have been told it should be in my bank account tomorrow. So fingers crossed!

Excellent news. I hope the money arrived OK.