How long does it take to get MAT B1 form?

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My employer needs my form by 22 weeks. Am currently 20 weeks. How long does it take and how do I get it? My midwife is currently off sick.

Call your gp and see if they can issue one

I got one at 5 weeks pregnant at my booking app?
I would just ring the GP and ask for one.

Mine was written there and then at my 20 week appointment

I have my 20 week scan on Tuesday but that's only with the sonographer. My next midwife appointment is in April...

I got mine from my gp she wrote and stamped it there and then. You just have to be 20 weeks or more.

I didn't get mine until my 25 week appointment with midwife

If your midwife is off sick there will be someone covering for her. Do you have a phone number for the community midwives base? Alternatively you could contact the antenatal clinic at your hospital. It only takes a moment to do, but it has to be someone involved in your care & has access to your records.

I have always just rung and asked for a midwife to leave one available at reception for me to collect.

Does your employer know that they can’t enforce you providing the form by 22 weeks?

They dont actually require it by 22 weeks. You dont even legally need to inform them of your pregnancy until 25 weeks. The .Gov website says it is required within 21 days of the SMP start date:

The employee should give you proof within 21 days of theSMPstart date. You can agree to accept it later if you want. Youdo not have to paySMPif you have not received proof of the due date 13 weeks after theSMP start date.

Just call your midwife she can give it to you straight away. I just asked for mine and she gave it to me

Her midwife is off sick. Do you have a contact number for the midwife team? Although it isn't required right away despite what your employer may say

In my area, they won’t issue them until you’ve had your 20 week scan. No idea why. Mine said they’d give it to me at my next appointment but that was 28 weeks (second baby) & too late so I called the midwife team number (on the front of my notes) and they sent me one in the post really quickly

I didn't get mine until 28 week appointment

Not sure if it's the same everywhere, but where I am you can't get it before 20 weeks.

Yes, it's the same everywhere. Not available until 20 weeks

It's pretty grim but my midwife told me they issue them after 20 weeks so they can be more confident that it's a viable pregnancy.

@mynameiscalypso it’s because from 24 weeks all women are entitled to maternity pay regardless of whether the baby is born alive or not. The forms are typically given out at the antenatal appointment after the 20 week scan, which usually happens to be at 24 weeks.

I got mine at the 20 week scan this time. We always see a midwife as well as a sonographer.

You cant get it until 20 weeks at the earliest so your employer saying you must have it by 22 weeks is unrealistic. As PP said you dont even legally have to inform them of the pregnancy until 25 weeks and they cant hold that against you e.g. by withholding maternity pay.

Phone your midwife team - someone else will have taken on your midwife's case load while she is ill.

I won't get mine til 25 weeks. Your employer is making up their own rules

Legally they can't be issued till you are 20 weeks and you are not supposed to issue them backdated. Most places you can drop in somewhere to get one even if it is the main mat unit or your GP is able to issue them, but your employer can't enforce you having to give it in by 22 weeks.