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Original poster

Maternity Allowance

11 replies

Sanpellegrino1 · 31/01/2026 04:41

Applied for MA just shy of 26 weeks pregnant - have gotten confirmation text that they recieved application - since then, crickets!

About to be 32 weeks pregnant and still not heard? Granted Christmas and NY was in between. Tried to call them yesterday and line went dead when I chose option ‘speak to advisor’. X 3 so just gave up!

Thanks in advance

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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dammit88 · 31/01/2026 07:03

Honestly you'd be best staying on the line to speak to someone than asking here .....

CharlotteRae · 31/01/2026 07:04

My sister in law filled out all of the forms etc and pretty sure only heard back a couple of weeks ago at around 36 weeks, she’s self employed.

Original poster
Sanpellegrino1 · 31/01/2026 08:13

dammit88 · 31/01/2026 07:03

Honestly you'd be best staying on the line to speak to someone than asking here .....

The line went dead both times - I did not hang up

OP posts:
NewtonsCradle · 31/01/2026 08:18

MAs are cash cows for universities. You probably will get in but you probably won't have time to study unless you have a lot of help.

Ohjoyohbliss · 31/01/2026 08:20

NewtonsCradle · 31/01/2026 08:18

MAs are cash cows for universities. You probably will get in but you probably won't have time to study unless you have a lot of help.

MA in the OP stands for maternity allowance, not master of arts.

Original poster
Sanpellegrino1 · 31/01/2026 09:22

NewtonsCradle · 31/01/2026 08:18

MAs are cash cows for universities. You probably will get in but you probably won't have time to study unless you have a lot of help.

🤣

OP posts:
NoYourNameChanged · 31/01/2026 09:23

I‘m self employed and so qualified for maternity allowance. Pretty sure I only heard really near the end, they took ages… which is standard for anything like that!

Goldennn · 01/02/2026 20:46

I didn’t hear anything until 10 days after my due date. They rang and asked if there was any update, I told them I was literally in labour and hoped to have a baby in the next few hours 😂 I guess you’re just meant to let them know when baby arrives but they will eventually ring you if you forget (or are overdue!)

MauriceTheMussel · 01/02/2026 21:10

I applied last year at the earliest week I could. Got the text 28 August to say application received and then a confirmatory text saying I was approved on Sept 8th, saying my first payment for 7th Sept week would be paid in 10 working days

effiehabb · 02/02/2026 13:44

I’m self employed and I heard back today via text the date and amount of first payment, I received a text message 6 days ago saying they had recieved the paperwork and I’ll hear within 4 weeks and probably sent the paperwork a week before that.
Defo give them a call and I hope you’re not waiting too much longer!

Superscientist · 03/02/2026 08:24

I filled the form in July as early as I could and the payments started a couple of weeks later.

I was unemployed and asked for the payments to start as soon as possible, I don't know if this has an impact on the turn around time

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