Maternity exemption card - when did you receive yours?

[Anyat212]

I was wondering if anyone has any advice on the maternity exemption cards? I’m 17 weeks tomorrow and have my next mid wife appointment next Tuesday. However, with a brutal first trimester with sickness which has cleared up massively (finally!) I’m suffering with constipation and bleeding gums..

I’ve added all my prescriptions of sickness tablets I have tried a few different ones and another £30+ prescription today on constipation relief - I’ve spent not far off £80 (including dentist appointments) and as I’ve said I’m only 17 weeks!

I can assure you I’m not a tight arse however, part of me is definitely cursing as I could have bought a brand new maternity outfit from Topshop for that. I rang my midwife around 2 weeks ago and she said I’d be given this at my next appointment so I’ve left it at that. I spoke to the pharmacist today and he said I need to fill a form in and it could take longer to receive as it comes in the post?

This is my first pregnancy so I’m unsure how it works but I’m pretty annoyed if that’s true? I’m also curious if prescriptions/dentist appointment fees will be back dated and if so long?

Sorry for the rant, this was a genuine question.. I just really wanted them Topshop maternity jeans!! Haha

I would say until you get your card through don't tick the box. You have to write your exemption card number in on the form so if you haven't got that then you cant tick the box and will be fined. They aren't not going to fine you just because your pregnant unfortunately doesn't work that way, seems midwife has messed up giving the form at the booking appoint. I forgot my card when I went to get a prescription from doctors but I wasn't allowed to tick the pregnancy exemption box because I hadn't got the card with the number on it. Just be careful hopefully will get sorted soon

Thank you!

I’ve just read back my comment around ticking the box, I don’t think I explained it very well! I don’t recommend anyone ticking it whenever (just in case you do get fined!) - The midwife said to tick it when you send it off as it should be in the system at least so can’t fine you. I’ve stocked up on prescriptions now anyway so fingers crossed I don’t need to go back for more until it arrives.

If anyone is reading this and needing the excemption form for free prescriptions and dental treatment only - I’d try and remember at your booking appointment to ask specifically for it. I think the midwife I spoke to on the phone a few weeks ago assumed I was talking about the MATB1 form 😕 and I never questioned it as I knew the difference and she never called it the MATB1 form. Definitely question it if they push back on the excemption form as I think they’ve forgot - maybe they should consider renaming these bloody forms 😂

@Htaylor182 Thanks! I think you’re right to be honest it’s not worth the risk. I think once I get this excemption card I’ll be wearing it round my neck with pride as if feels like sooo much effort haha!

All these procedures of card numbers do people on benefits have to write numbers on their prescriptions?! Argh why make it difficult for pregnant women - my memory is shocking at the moment but thanks for the advice! X

What you need to do is get receipts for your prescriptions and treatment, then if you get your maternity exemption card through and the 'valid from' date is before the date of the receipts, you can fill in a form and send the receipts off for a refund of the costs. But you won't get a refund for the costs just because you are pregnant. The form tick box is for "has a valid maternity exemption certificate". The NHSBSA does state that they will backdate the certificate to one month before they receive your form, however.

Yes, if you have an exemption card for any reason you should show it to the pharmacy. You don't have to, but it means they have to check up on you at the NHSBSA.

@Anyat212 there is a box to put national insurance number for benefits.

Then an other for excemption card numbers.

@Lougle I’ve kept receipts for everything I’ve bought but my sickness started at 6 weeks - I’m 17 weeks today and whenever I get this date on my card they are not going to back date that far as it’s only 4 weeks? - which I’m very annoyed at. All because my midwife ‘forgot’ to provide this at my 8 week booking scan, that’s the problem. I’ll be speaking to my midwife next Tuesday and I’m certainly airing this because it’s a joke, I’ve worked since 16 - so like other women I expect to be told what I’m entitled to and be provided this information. Its not asif we get much ‘free’ stuff so I would like to be informed of these things properly and not have them mixing forms up and again giving me misleading information which has delayed this process even more. It’s an absolute piss take to be honest & unfortunately I certainly won’t be the last.

Sorry for the rant - it’s just annoying me thinking about it

I got the form at my booking in appointment and received the card today which was about 2 weeks later.

I didn’t realise there was any other way to get one other than sending the form off.