HR can't get anything right - still delaying my claim for maternity allowance. Help?

[Paranoid1stTimer]

Hi - I have a general whinge to make.... Sorry...

I have EVENTUALLY got a letter from my work telling me that my maternity leave starts last week (as I know since I am on it!!!). The letter then goes on to say I am not entitled to SMP but can claim MA by... The next section is missing.

There is no MATB1 or SM1 form enclosed and no final salary date on the letter. TOTAL INCOMPETANCE!! I phoned up after I calmed down a bit and the girl was really rude straight away - good old massive company style HR depts. She couldn't see how I couldn't "understand" my letter so I basically had to read the part where section 2 of the letter says "you are not entitled to SMP but may be entitled to MA. In order to do this you will have to...." then the letter jumps onto section 5. "Ahhh - the printer must have changed the formatting". When I asked about return of my MATB1 form and SM1 form she said she would give me a phone number for someone in payroll?!? Then she CUT ME OFF!!!! I phoned the number back and couldn't get through - now it is after 5pm HR dept is closed for the day.

Fan-frikkin-tastic. Told DH and he thinks I should just go to jobcentre with the incomplete letter, copy of MATB1 form and cry that I am 4 weeks away from having a baby with no money and this is all my work are willing to give me.... Not sure what to do - continue to try and get my SM1 form/MATB1 form back from the huge sprawling uncaring company I work for or trying to get sympathy from the jobcentre staff.... hmm

Ah well, I may be making a mountain out of a mole hill but it's just been one of those days

Any advice???

call your MW or doc and explain that you need a new MATB1 form

Sounds as though they are a bit rubbish. It is probably the payroll dept who will have to complete your SMP1 to say you won't be getting SMP but I would expect HR to liaise with them and get it to you promptly.

I wouldn't go to the job centre without it, I can't imagine for one minute they will process your claim without an SMP1, otherwise they have no proof you're not getting SMP as well as MA.

Try and breathe deeply and phone back HR tomorrow, and try to speak to someone a bit more senior, just let them know you are not getting SMP but you are unable to claim maternity allowance because HR have not returned your MATB1 form and have not provided you with an SMP1 form to give to the job centre. Explain about all the delays you have had and make sure this more senior person knows you are about to have your baby any minute and have no money because of them.

It is HR you are liaising with not payroll, so insist that they sort it out between them and send it to you recorded delivery (I don't think duplicates of MATB1 forms can be issued) as soon as possible.

nothing to add as no expert...but I got a duplicate MATB1 form - although on the 2nd one they couldn't be bothered to fill the details in - just signed it and left it to me to do!

Are you happy that you are not entitled to SMP through them? Just wonder if they are being exceedingly crap and sending you on a wild goose chase.....

Thanks for the response - I think I am just sooo angry that it has taken them so long to get this sorted out when I knew all along I wasn't entitled to SMP so would just need them to send out the SMP1 and return my MATB1 form but it is just soooooooooo frustrating how so many people have to get involved and it is passed around etc.

Thanks for the info though - it makes sense now that I know HR and payroll will have to liase with each other with respect to the forms and my MW says you can't get another MATB1 form as the original would have a reference no on it or something like that and would therefore have to go back through HR again for processing anyway...

I will take a breather tonight and phone them again tomorrow as you advise. I guess they are just doing their job. Hormones make it so much harder to deal with when some hiccups arise!!!

Doing their job, but I query how well they are doing it - liaising with payroll for a piddly little form is not rocket science or exactly unusual activity either.

Probably you caught someone having a bad afternoon who was desperate to get away on time and rushed.

Try in the morning and hopefully people will be more disposed to be helpful!

Paranoid, I had a similar experience with my employer's HR team this time round, so I sympathise.

Just a thought - have you got your MA form all filled in & the relevant payslips sorted ready to send off with it etc? (I had to hunt for one of mine )At least everything will be ready to send off when you do get your SMP1/MATB1 from HR. You can download the form here (sorry if this is grandma sucking eggs )

PS

JC+ won't do anything without the SMP1/MATB1, so save your breath...

I didn't think JC+ would be interested in my "plight". DH is very vocal when it comes to telling me exactly what to do and how to do it but I find myself thinking "why do I bother 'sharing' anything with him" and there is no way her would bother his @rse to do anything about the situation if it were him!!!

Anyways, I'll give HR another call and see how I get on. Maybe it's the preggers sensitivity chip that makes me think they aint bein helpful - they're not at the best of times but it just seems amplified when you're hormone levels are through the roof!

Thank you for your advice - totally appreciate it xxx

Hi Paranoid - any luck?

I sent off my application for Mat Allow two weeks ago on the Monday, was told it would take 6 to 8 weeks to be granted, but got a statement back on the Saturday (5 days later) saying it had been granted! I live in London and i really hope that they are as quick at granting your Allowance as they were with me. I was VERY surprised it got turned around so quickly.