Maternity Allowance payments

[ikphillips]

Just wanted to check on others' experiences with Mat Allowance. Very fortunately they've processed my application and made my first payment within about 3 weeks, but the amount seems to be a bit random (ie not the £148.68 a week I believe I'm entitled to but £200-something).
Also have they paid others monthly or every two weekly?
I will ring them up when I get a chance but wondered if there was any MN wisdom out there before I get on hold to DWP!
Thanks

The 200 something is strange, unless thats at the beginning for part months/weeks - mine is going to be 148 a week but the first payment is 200 and something because of where the dates fall.
You had to choose 2 weekly or monthly on the form.

The whole maternity allowance system is absolute crap, I've had so much trouble with it and my payments havent even started yet!

As for the being paid weekly or monthly, you would have chosen this on a form when you first applied.

@Amanduh thanks for this, maybe that's what it is. It would help if DWP actually communicated this to me rather than just dumped money in my account!
@RhymingRabbit3 totally agree!
Thanks both for the info on 2 weeks/1 month. Can't for the life of me remember what I put on the form!

It's taken me 9 weeks to get mine sorted out .
It's every two weeks they are paying me think you can choose either fortnightly or monthly .

For the random amount if it doesn't add up it could be the tax thats come off?
I believe it's a taxable income, could be wrong though

It’s tax free, not a taxable income. I agree op, they did send me a letter with the amounts but no actual explanation as to how they’ve come to those numbers 😂 just glad mine was sorted so quickly (3/4 weeks) as I’ve heard horror stories!

I remember from my last MA the first payment was similar to yours and I think it was because of the dates of when I started. Then I received it every two weeks( this is how I choose, it's either 2 weeks or 4 weeks).

This time I've sent my form and last week paid the extra NI I needed to qualify for the full rate and on Sunday I officially start my maternity leave, so will see when I get paid.

Hi,
Do you have to apply for this?
Do you apply before or after baby is born?
Thanks

@fingerscrossed11
Read this as it will answer your questions:

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

@R2D2abc
Thank you

Thanks all, sounds like the first payment might be a bit out of whack due to the way the dates fall. Sounds like I opted for 2-weekly payments but no idea! Good luck with all the babies in weeks/months to come!