does anyone know how long it takes for self employmnet MA to get processed?

[lydiathetattooedlady]

i spoke to someone on the phone who said that i cant actually claim until i am on maternity leave, this obvioucly leaves me with no income until it is processed. any one with experience as to how long it takes? i have handed my first form in with maternity certificate, was told ill be sent another form but not to send it back until i stop working!

Mine was turned around within a week. I'm in London, not sure about other areas.

I received a letter confirming mine within two weeks of sending the form off. I'm also in London. I applied for mine at 26 weeks pregnant (I think you can do it at any point after 25 weeks.) I remember the form reading as though it is only applicable when you've finished work, but I wrote in the date when I want mine to start and they seem to have worked it out! I downloaded the form from the website and sent it in with my MAT1, and the letter I received didn't mention another form.

I applied for MA but I wasn't self-employed, just not eligiable for SMP. It took nearly three months to come through but there was a massive backlog. Might be worth checking as I was told to apply a month before I was eligable so that it would be processed in time. - I got my first payment a week before I went into hospital to have dd.

The person you spoke to on the phone is talking out of her arse.

"The earliest you can get Maternity Allowance is from the 11th week before the week your baby's due"

Its all on here www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/ma/index.asp

Fill in the form from this page as soon as you're 25 weeks

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/customers/workingagebenefits/dev_008115%5B1%5D.xml.html

but don't read the info on the jobcentre plus website cos some of its out of date...