Maternity allowance!! Anyone recently applied?

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I got a text message acknowledging receipt of my application and it says I should hear back about their decision within 8 weeks!! Is this the standard message they send and has anyone else who has applied in the last month or so willing to let me know how long they were waiting??

Thanks in advance [signed-(going to be) very poor, (currently) very pregnant and very emotional!]

@purplefig, I'm fine, I'm lucky my husband makes enough for us to cover bills etc. Just think an extra 6 weeks is quite a long time. Here's hoping yours will come through in time

I had a text saying mine would take 14 weeks and this is so annoying for me because I really need the money. My partner and I don't yet live together...

@MrsGrahamx it's outrageous! I'm glad you'll be fine (we should be able to manage for a few months at least too) but there are plenty of women who will be relying on this to get by.

@Moomin8 for what it's worth, they do say they'll backdate the payments. But that's hardly ideal when you have bills to pay.

Now I'm getting nervous. Been relying on the money to come in, this is the first time I've done this and didn't think there may delays. I am 23 weeks, hoping to apply this week (will get it in the post ASAP now!) and if it's 14 weeks it will be just before my due date when I get it. Will have to put in place other plans for those 3 months - been living hand-to-mouth at moment as my husband's employer (a charity) is also behind on their books...
Any ideas besides working more? My husband has taken on two side gigs plus studying for a degree, and I have been very weak this pregnancy, looking after my house and 2 little boys and barely managing my work as is. I want to take MA from the end of Dec, because I am too weak to work? How should I manage with money?!?

Hi, I don’t know if it’s changed because of the delays but I don’t think you can apply until 26 weeks pregnant (not that that helps with the 14 week delays) also I read on another thread about people getting an emergency payment to keep them by until the decision was made due to the delays, maybe speak to job centre and see if they can help with that

@Anxiousandexcited you can only apply once you're 26 weeks pregnant. Sorry you're having a tough time! I did read they've hired extra people so fingers crossed that they're back on track once you're due!

Oh, but can't I post it early, because they won't anyway be processing it yet? Or does the system not let... :(

How's everyone getting on? I applied 18/10/19 and got a text saying they’d reply within 14 weeks. My due date is 14/12/19 so potentially I will have to go 7 wks - maybe more with Xmas break etc - with no money at all. I was late applying as got made redundant and needed 7 weeks more work (which I managed to do) before I qualified. It’s really bad that the Gov website etc don’t warn you about the delays in processing.

I stupidly didn't apply until I was 33 weeks, had the text saying 14 weeks until the decision.. Thats the end of Feb and baby will be 8osh weeks.. Will they backdate it to when I applied (the week I finished work at 33 weeks)?

This is a nightmare. It's not much money but it is much needed!

I’ve read it somewhere that they do backdate it. In some ways will be nice to get a lump sum but I need to know if definitely getting it and how much. Stressing!

I've just received my letter, so that's under 9 weeks for me. Now all I got to do is sort out the NI2 contributions which I've already transferred to HMRC so it should all be good before baby arrives 😁

@MrsGrahamx as in it was confirmed for within 9 weeks? That's really good going at the moment!

Confirmed that I'll get 27 a week which is not on but that'll be sorted soon enough 😊

@MrsGrahamx at least it's a speedy ish response and can be sorted. Did they say in the letter you can sort with upping NI contributions?

@purplefig Yes, it says hmrc will write within 10 working days to let you know how to pay. I already have credit on my hmrc account so they told me on the phone as soon as they receive the report from DWP they can transfer it to NI and that should be it. DWP said they posted to HMRC on Friday so shouldn't be too long.

@MrsGrahamx ahh that's fab. I've paid my 2018/19 tax bill already so hoping it's the same for me.

@MrsGrahamx could you please let me know how long it takes from paying NI to getting the full amount as I spoke to someone from dwp and she said they re-review the application after 4 weeks. Hoping it isn’t actually that long

Anyone else wanting to apply for this, apply as early as possible. I applied late as I was moving back from France and couldn't find a payslip. I've been waiting 11 weeks since I applied.

I thought it was supposed to be paid in 8 weeks. I'm now on hold trying to get through, but the recorded message says to only contact them 14 weeks after you applied! I'm ignoring that as I'm so brassic, I'm juggling money and won't be able to afford Christmas this year if my back payment doesn't come in soon...

@brihoney unfortunately I think 14 weeks is the minimum right now. I applied as soon as I was 26 weeks pregnant (22/10) and got a message on 25/10 to say my application had been received and that they'd send me a decision within 14 weeks.

I applied for maternity allowance 2 weeks ago and got a txt few days later saying it will take upto 14 weeks for a decision! I'm due 7th jan but planned section for 31st December! So kinda stressing me out lol! Also left partner due to domestic violence and now homeless with 2 other children!! So I'm ready to crack lol

@AmyMick1985 call them and explain your situation - I’m sure I read that they were giving out emergency advances in some cases a while ago (when the Sun covered the story) so see if there is anything they can do.

Bit of an update here; I've been in contact with HMRC this morning since I haven't received the 2nd letter yet. The kind gentleman said they can see in the system that I've applied but that it can take up to 22 working days. He also said rather than sending out the bill to me (which would be the 2nd letter) they would just transfer the money that I have in my account towards my NI contributions. God knows why this has to take so long. Not much more to do than to stay patient for a bit longer 😑

Update from me. Received text they had my application 14 August. I'm self employed. Received letter saying I'd only receive the lower amount 2 weeks ago. I had forward paid all NI contributions in the summer! Rang NI people and oh, they've "forgotten" to allocate the money to my account 😡 oh... and "forgotten" to send me the letter that should tell me how much money I owe to top up to get the higher amount (which I don't owe). Woman on phone couldn't sort out the mess so it's been escalated and we will receive a phone call today (hopefully... I don't trust them they are clearly incompetent). Then they will write to the MA people and it takes 4 weeks (I think they said) for them to reprocess it

What a total joke. My MP (after the election) will be written about this!

@PrayingandHoping it's annoying isn't it. I paid into my account for NI2 contributions contributions when I did my self assessment this summer as well but apparently their system isn't made to recognise this. They certainly are making us work for it.

Flipping shocking isn't it! We had checked afterwards and seen it hadn't been allocated and already had the conversation with them and they were going to do it.... back in July!!!!

We are lucky... we aren't relying on the money. But it absolutely is not the point!!!