Maternity Grant

[OliviaL9530]

Hi all!

Just a quick question regarding the sure start maternity grant..

I'm awaiting a decision on my maternity allowance as my weekly earnings weren't high enough to qualify for maternity pay through my job.

I'm also waiting a decision on universal credit but don't think I'll get this as I'll be receiving a wage in September.

Do you have to be receiving universal credit or maternity allowance to qualify for the grant? The paper work is so confusing.

Hi!

If you are not eligible for UC at the moment due to your earnings, you should reapply when you start maternity leave and your earnings go down. Plus when baby is born you will be entitled to more UC (the child element in addition to what you would get now) so at that point you will definitely be eligible.

Assuming that you are not receiving any other benefits at the moment, you won't be eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant until you are on UC. (Maternity Allowance isn't relevant as it's not means-tested as doesn't entitle you to the grant.)

You could probably do with having the grant sooner rather than later, but you do have plenty of time to apply for it - up to 6 months after baby is born.

Remember to apply for child benefit as well (you have to do that within 3 months).

Are you in a relationship with the father and living with him? Does he work? Are you renting?

PS See www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant

@AnotherEmma

Thank you for replying!

So my last wage from my employer will be 28th September then come October that's when I'll be receiving the maternity allowance so I should wait until then to apply? As I should be receiving UC then too? Does the maternity allowance go toward the universal credit payment or is it done separately?

I'm 30 weeks so still plenty of time to apply I was just curious.

Yes I'm with the father, he's working and we rent x

You should claim Maternity Allowance ASAP, you can claim any time from 26 weeks and request a start date in the future (ie when you are due to start maternity leave). Do claim ASAP because it can take a while for them to process your claim.

Maternity Allowance will be deducted from your UC. If you get the standard amount it's £151.97/week, it's paid every 2 or 4 weeks and I advise you to ask for it to be paid every 2 weeks.

Whether or not you're entitled to UC and how much you will get depends on your partner's earnings, your housing costs and various other factors. For advice on that including when to (re)claim, contact Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

As I said in my first post, you need to get UC first before you can apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant.