Maternity allowance childcare and LWCRA

[miag98]

Hi so just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation. I've been employed over the last year and a half and therefore was entitled to the childcare element on universal credit as I'm a single parent. I've been really poorly with this pregnancy and universal credit signed me off worked saying I have a limited capability for work and work related activities.

My work have also said I'm not entitled to maternity leave as I havnt earned enough each week but I am entitled to maternity allowance.

So basically UC are now saying that I'm not entitled to the childcare element because I'm
Not working, however I'm not working as I'm poorly but it says on there website you can still claim childcare if your in maternity allowance. I'm just really confused. Would I not be entitled to maternity allowance now that I'm getting a sick benefit ?? Does that mean my little girl will have to leave nursery. I'm a single parent and going to be left with a newborn and a toddler on my own all because they have decided am too sick to work and took my maternity allowance off me. I'm so confused.

How old is your little girl?
As far as I'm aware, you're child will get the free childcare hours regardless if you're on UC?

I don't have much advice on the other part though, sorry.

However, how has it gone through work? Have the doctors signed you off sick?
And how much do you actually earn? I think you have to earn £120 a week to be entitled to SMP

If you've left your job though, you're not classed as employed so whilst yes you can claim maternity allowance I believe as you've recently left a job, childcare element is only for employed

Are you still employed but signed off sick or not working at all? You would be entitled to maternity leave but not Statutory Maternity Pay if your sick pay is too low in the qualifying weeks. This is why you would claim Maternity Allowance.

Is the issue that Maternity Allowance is counted as income so what you get as MA is deducted from your Universal Credit?

Your post isn’t clear. Do you mean you are not entitled to statutory maternity pay so have to claim maternity allowance? Everyone is entitled to maternity leave so don’t know why your employer says you’re not? Are you receiving statutory sick pay? You need to post your timeline eg when did you go on the sick and how many weeks pregnant are you? UC don’t sign you off without you applying but timings are important for sick and maternity. Are you still employed?

Are you receiving Statutory Sick Pay or ESA?
If you are getting less than £120 per week then you dont qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay so you'd apply for Maternity Allowance

Maternity leave is separate from Maternity Pay as everyone gets the leave but not everyone gets the pay