Universal Credit while on Maternity pay?

[Freespirit98]

Hi all. Just hoping 🤞 for some advice as I'm a bit stuck.

I've been on maternity leave a few weeks now my baby girl is due in 3 weeks, I'm getting the standard 6 weeks wage from work on 90% pay then it drops to SMP weekly, I was told if I claimed Universal credit this would make up the money I'm losing as there's no way I could pay bills and rent and stuff for me and baby on £150 a week from £340+!

My main question is, do I need to wait until my wage drops from 90% to SMP to pur a claim in with UC? Or can I do it now before babys born and my money drops (just one less job to do when she's here as my money drops on my due date) i thought Either way it doesn't matter when I do it because there going to see my earnings when my workplace report to HMRC aren't they?

Thanks for any advice it means a lot sorry to ramble I hope it makes sense! Baby brain is real right now 🤣 thank you xx

Get it done now as it takes a few weeks to process a claim anyway

Thank you for the reply, I've just done the benefits calculator and it says at the moment I won't be eligible for anything, until my money drops then I did it then it said I was eligible! So I'm assuming I will be declined now, and will have to reapply once it drops?

The assessment period says 4 weeks so im thinking I'll have to apply once it's dropped and they can see I've been on low income for 4 weeks?

Does this sound right to you

@Freespirit98 do you have a partner that earns a lot? My DH works full time and I work part time and we still qualify for UC so I’m surprised if it’s just your wage that you don’t qualify for anything.

OP apply now, even if it's a nil award for a month, it's calculated on a monthly basis and will change once you have baby. Once you inform them baby has arrived your "standard allowance" will increase as you have a dependent. Just because you may get a nil award this month it will change next month as your pay drops but it takes time to set up as others have said so do it now

@PickledScrump No nothing! Maybe I will be entitled once baby is born, but at the minute it says at £315.00 a week I'm entitled to nothing! X

@PickledScrump No nothing! Maybe I will be entitled once baby is born, but at the minute it says at £315.00 a week I'm entitled to nothing! X

@secretmumoffour Thank you for your reply! I was worried about being declined then having to make the account all over again anyway when baby is here so I was putting it off, I shall do it now today! Thank you, someone recommended doing it on the 1st of the month, does it matter when you do it would you say? My babys due on the 20th, and that's also the date my money is dropping to SMP x

@secretmumoffour Thank you for your reply! I was worried about being declined then having to make the account all over again anyway when baby is here so I was putting it off, I shall do it now today! Thank you, someone recommended doing it on the 1st of the month, does it matter when you do it would you say? My babys due on the 20th, and that's also the date my money is dropping to SMP x

@Freespirit98 don't know if you've heard about the sure start grant? If you are entitled you can receive up to £500 if it's your first baby. It really helped me a lot

Thank you! I'm not entitled at the minute, but once my money drops to SMP and I'm eligible for UC, I can apply for it, 🫶

Thank you! I'm not entitled at the minute, but once my money drops to SMP and I'm eligible for UC, I can apply for it, 🫶

I might be wrong but I’m sure you can enter an advance claim? Explain baby due on x date, pay drops on x date.

So at least they have the form now.

@Missingmyusername ahh this would be perfect if i could do that, saves me messing when babys here haha, I'm going to give it a go today at least make the account and see what's there thank you! X

Worth a go ~ even just checking all the bits of I.D/bank statements you need! Don’t want to have to mess around when baby here. Good luck 😊