Claiming maternity allowance

[redclover79]

I've found out from work I'm not entitled to maternity pay through them and they have sent through the forms to apply for maternity allowance. The forms want me to send 13 test weeks payslips from the last year (when I was on paid maternity leave). Am I supposed to send the payslips with the highest amounts, the lowest amounts or an average amount? I have no idea why they vary so much when I should have been earning 90% of my pay for the whole 9 months and I'm paid 4 weekly...
tia!

I'm pretty sure there's a "test period" of 13 weeks they want you to send, not just any 13 weeks. ifswim.

sorry, ignore what i just said, just reading up on this online just now................

You can use any 13 weeks within your test period, which is the 66 weeks up to your due date. The 13 weeks don't have to be in a block, so pick the 'best' ones.

as it doesn't actually affect how much benefit you will get, I'd send in the lowest amounts, all they want to do is work out average earnings from what you send them.

If your gross weekly earning tended to be around the £112.75, though, I'd make sure the payslips you send in will get an average of over £112,75, if possible

hope thsi helps
x

Sorry yes was working on the assumption your earnings are probably under the £112 as you are not entitled to SMP but of course this may be because you haven't been at your employers long enough!

If you are below £112 a week send your highest so they can work out your average as high as possible. If you are above that, doesn't matter I'd say.

thanks for the replies, I'm actually only just returning from maternity leave, and my earnings are so pants I only just qualified for that! Is maternity allowance a percentage of your earnings or a flat rate?

When I did it 4 years ago you could pick your weeks. I think its 13 weeks out of a test period of many weeks (can't remember how long).I was told to pick the best 13 weeks with the highest amounts, but there is a point at which it doesn't matter. cos its two bands I think.

i think its a flat rate,heres the link i was looking at

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

thanks lailasmum and flier, just been digging out my payslips, next stop the jobcentre!

MA is a flat rate of £112.75
or
90% of your average gross weekly earnings (from your 13 week test period) if this is less than £112.75

so make sure you send in your best 13weeks of the 66 week qualifying period, that way you get the most MA (unless all weeks are over £112.75 of course, then you get £112.75 whatever weeks you submit)

see this site for more info

thanks bb, will look at the link! Unfortunately my wage is a bit pitiful so I'm not gonna qualify for £112!

I have been self employed and earned pretty much nothing, it came back saying £27 per week so they told me to pay 13 weeks NI as I had a small earning certificate and I now get £112. As far as I'm aware as long as you have earned £30 per week for the £13 weeks or paid you NI you will get it. Even once the decision is made they will change it and backdate if they can, I would just ask them for advice.