Maternity Allowance - how long to process claim?

[fluffyslippers]

Hi,

Has anyone applied for Maternity Allowance recently and, if so, do you know how long it takes for them to process the claim?
I sent my form in last week and need to claim from middle of April, I have heard there is a backlog and I've got little faith in it being processed in time and don't know how I'll survive financially if it isn't.
Thanks,
Ali

Hiya,
I applied last year in feb for stating payments March and it only took them a couple of weeks for everything to come through....

I applied in January and it took just under 2 weeks iirc.

Just under 2 weeks, and they paid me from when the form was dated (I applied later than when first eligible IYSWIM?).

Oh, and that was a couple of weeks ago!

Yep
I can agree with everyone here, Once you send it off it comes back really quickly. I held off sending in the final form which actually starts payment till last monday and I got it back this morning, So its started now and its not even the end of the week.

It might depend where you live. I was flabbergasted as I posted the stuff on Thursday and somebody rang me on Monday and by Friday the first payment was in (I requested to start asap). I heard they prioritise this over other benefits, not sure if it's true. The important thing is to send all the forms you need (mat1 and the payslips if needed or your employer's form)or it delays things. Also maternity allowance is tax free, it doesn't count as income if you're doing a tax return and they pay the NI for you, so you get your £108 and 85p gross. I think you pay tax on statutory maternity pay because it's a big percentage of your earnings, which is financed by an employer. The jobcentre's website and the department of work and pension's site have very detailed info, along with downloadable forms.

Thanks everyone, I sent mine in just over a week ago so hopefully won't be too long.

Only thing is I'm self employed and I couldn't answer one question, neither could 8 jobcentres I rang and they told me to write a note beside it to explain my situation, so I'm a bit worried it will delay things. But I guess I have a bit of time since I don't need it to start until April.

Ali

I called about mine today, i sentmine in over 2 weeks ago and its to start end of march. I was told they are 8 weeks behind??!!

I asked what would happen if my mat leave was meant to start beofre then and they said when they get to it , it would be back dated,

No good really is it, when your not getting paid.

Mine was 4 weeks but they backdated the pay from when I was entitled to start getting it, if that makes sense.

I had to call them a few times as we were moving too and kept being told they were behind with claims.

How do you know who/where to call about it? Is there a central phone number or do you call the job centre?

Kyte, Maternity Allowance is a government benefit paid to women who aren't entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay. If you're in employment, if you earn at least £84 a week, and plan to remain in employment until at least the 15th week before your due date, you don't claim MA from the government so none of this information will apply to you. I think you might have got it mixed up with maternity pay from your employer (of which Statutory Maternity Pay is a constituent).

flufyslippers, just call your local jobcentreplus - they'll be processing your claim.

Lazyemma - thanks, but when I went to the jobcentre plus they told me they don't process the claims they get sent to somewhere in Newcastle to be done (I live in Northeast) and they can't give me a number.
GRRR hope my claim hasn't gone awol in the system, doesn't help there's noone I can call about it.

Could do without this stress!

Ali x

I wouldn't worry too much, fluffy - you've sent your info in with plenty of time to spare before the middle of April. I haven't heard it taking any longer than three or four weeks at most for a claim to be processed.

Mine took six weeks to process but included the Xmas/New Year. They backdates the pay to start as from the day they received the claim, so I got a big payment upfront.

Fluffyslippers - Thats Rubbish the Job Centre could not help you with a number, what a lasy shower. I called in the first place and they gave me another number, when i had to claim.
I would phone them (general enquiry No) and ask for claims department regarding Maternity. Someone there should help you.

Thanks kitty, I'll try that if I haven't heard in the next week or so.
I've had nothing but problems with my local jobcentre, the people there have been completely ignorant regarding my queries - don't seem to have any experience of self employed people claiming and it's driven me CRAAAAZZZZYYY!

...deep breaths

Ali

These links are great:

for child benefit (you can claim after birth), visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/cb-key.htm

for statutory maternity pay (employed)
www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp

for maternity allowance (employed not for long or self-employed or other) visit
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

I live in hertfordshire and my claim was received on 3/1/07 and I want payments to start from 5/3/07 and I spoke to them last week and they have a backlog and aren't due to deal with claims received on this date for another week or so!

So 8 week backlog they have assured that payments will be backdated if delayed and you can check by giving NI no that form is in the system and will be dealt with

Did anyone fill in the pdf file online? I can't seem to print it out? Any ideas??

Thanks

mine took around 2 weeks was pretty quick.
lins x