When did you submit a claim for Maternity Allowance?

[SomebodysNotInBedYet]

I'm employed part time. I earned less than £116 per week during the test period so I'll be getting Maternity Allowance rather than SMP but it works out at the same amount of money anyway. The problem is my employer has yet to provide me with an SMP1 form which I need to apply. They have been hounded relentlessly by me, my manager and my area manager but have only replied once saying I'll get it nearer the time. I'm 33 weeks now, taking annual leave from 34 weeks and starting maternity leave at 39 weeks. Payroll (that's who is dealing with it, there's no HR department) haven't responded in the past 2 weeks and I had one response in the previous 6 weeks.

So, my questions are when did you get your SMP1 from? When did you submit it? Did you still get maternity allowance from when you went on maternity leave? Did they have to back pay because you submitted it late?

I don't know why payroll aren't being clear with me, they've already said I won't be getting SMP so I don't know what the hold up is. The direct.gov website says they must provide an SMP1 within 7 days of their decision which I've pointed out to them but they are ignoring.

If they are ignoring you say you will take it up with HMRC. That should get it going

Print it online just google smp1 form and hand it your employer thats what i did then get them to fill it out as soon as you hand it to them then send it off asap x

Hi, I would insist they give you smp1 ASAP! I’m currently 35weeks and sent mine along with my stat maternity paperwork 5weeks ago and still waiting to hear, apparently it can take up to 30 working days 🙄
But I believe they do back date it!

Get form asap and send off to HMRC as it has taken 8 weeks for me to receive money (albeit self employed so had to also wait for bill 're ni) they will backdate though but still a bit of a pain waiting! I would also say chase after the 21 working days as I didn't hear anything but as soon as I reached that point they apologised and sorted asap and I got letter confirming my payments on the Monday (had called on the Friday!) Good luck

Thanks everyone, do you think I can just get my manager to fill in the form? Even if HMRC back pay I'll still be out of pocket for who knows how long, I don't see how this is such a surprise for payroll, I'm not the first woman to have a baby ffs.

I would try yes, I only sat that because when I phoned to check my maternity allowance paperwork had arrived, the lady I spoke to checked I had sent in the correct documentation as she said without the correct documents they wont review the claim which means waiting even longer.