Maternity Allowance Help

[pmd123]

Hi, just looking for a little advice regarding maternity allowance...

My wife is 28 weeks pregnant, however due to complications early in the pregnancy she left work early, and in the 66 week test period up to the due date she has only 25 weeks worked instead of the required 26.

having spoken to an advisor on maternity allowance we were informed that even though she earned well over the £112.75 threshold for the 25 weeks she worked we will be unable to claim unless she works one extra week, although they did inform her that even one hour would by their rules class as a full week.

The only problem is finding someone willing to give her the one shift she needs both my employer and her previous employer are no goes, as are any of our family's employers. I have a friend who owns a shop but that is looking unlikely to happen, and finding a job is unlikely due to her being so far pregnant.

we have considered temping but again it will be unlikely that an agency will take her on when they know she's 28 weeks, are currently looking at catalogue distribution, however it is commission based and i am unsure as how this would be classed by the DWP regarding a maternity allowance claim, and have even considered registering her as self employed for a week, to get her a small earnings exemption certificate, however it would be complicated to do.

If anyone has been in a similar position, or has any advice on this matter we would be grateful to hear from you, as this is becoming a very stressful situation for both of us.

I would go to a temping agency be straight with them and state she is prepared to do a weeks work doing anything anywhere do they have anything on offer? They may well do.

I have no advice I am afraid but just wanted to say I am sorry this has happened, at a time you need support and the least amount of external stress, esp with health problems. I hope you find a way around this. What a shame her employer cant give her just a few hours to give her the time she needs.

Thanks for the quick replies.

Only problem with temping is that my wife is a therapist, so finding something in her field will be very difficult, she could always look at customer service or office work, just depends if they will take her on in an area that is not her regular employment.

Can she register with revenue and customs as a self employed cleaner and get some friends to pay her for 'cleaning'. Pay by cheque into the account to prove earnings. Take the money from a different account and give back to friends? Then she has been employed for 25wks and self employed for 1? Notsure if this is allowed or if you need to be one or the other.

I know you can do it as a mix of employed and self employed, we have considered regisering her as a babysitter and looking after our nephew for the night, only problem is the complexity of registering and getting exemptions, would be a lot easier if we could find temporary employment.

No you cant be self employed you have to work and pay tax for the week - is there no way your work will let her do odd bits for a week are they aware that they will not be liable for any Maternity allowance that all comes from the government? You will be surprised with agencies as long as she says she is pregnant and goes for general office temping like reception or simular they should be able to place her for the week if she says she is 28 weeks and is looking to work for a further 6 weeks (they dont need to know its just really the one) and is will to do any type of office work yu should get lucky! Good luck with it

Both my employer and my wife's former employer are NHS trusts, so all vacancies/ positions need to be fully advertised, so there is no way there.

I really do think that some form of temping will be the way to go, gonna give all the agencies a ring tomorrow, see how that goes.

www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/ma/index.asp#maelig

here is the link to the webpage by the DWP explaining the rules for claiming maternity allowance for anyone who is interested, or will be claiming in the near future.