Am I eligible to receive maternity allowance?

[Benjy]

I was working on a short-term temporary contract when I conceived DD1 and was unemployed by the time I gave birth. I received maternity allowance from end of May 2008 to February 2009.

In November 2008, I discovered that I am pregnant again. This wasn't a planned pregnancy as we had fertility treatment to conceive DD1 and had been told that we would never conceive naturally.

We are looking forward to our surprise DC2 but a second child will mean I am unable to return to work as childcare for two children would cost more than the salary I would bring home.

Does anyone know if I am entitled to receive a second lot of MA? My understanding is not but I just wanted to make sure because the extra support would make a great difference to us.

Hi there.
I think you may not be elligible for maternity allowance unless you work between now and when baby is born. see how they decide below. Good luck!!

The rule is

a) you must have been employed for 26 weeks minimum in your test period. The test period which is 66 weeks backwards from the week before your baby's due.

b) you must have earned £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in your test period .

Thank you.

I don't have 26 weeks left until the birth. Does the period I received maternity allowance count as employment?

Hi Benjy, MA payment period does not count as employment. Depending on your due date, your test period is likely to be somewhen around April '08 till your due date. I suspect this means you only have 4 weeks of employment as a maximum. So you would need to accrue another 22 weeks of employment to qualify. I doubt you have that long left, do you?

You will qualify for the Health in Pregnancy Grant though, which you can apply for at 25 weeks by asking your midwife for a form.

You may also qualify for the surestart maternity grant if you receive tax credits above the family rate of £545 or £1090 if you have a baby under 1. That is a weekly rate of either £10.48 or £20.96.