Grrrr

[Sherlock]

Mini rant against stupid benefits (mods feel free to move this if you think it should elsewhere, its a 3rd tri rant for me )

My dealings with any kind of benefit claims have been practically non existant. In my entire life I've only claimed Jobseekers allowance for 2 weeks when I returned from living overseas for 8 years. Claiming maternity allowance should be simple. Well it was. Is.

But for the backlog of claims they have and the fact they are only up to processing to the middle of January 2008 Yeah I took great comfort when I heard that. Inspired with confidence they are on the ball

Forget you are entitled to it from 11 weeks before your due date. Not happening when they have received your application well in advance but its still sat in a pile and not been processed. And it appears this ain't happening for at least another 2 weeks!

OK, I don't need the money. We are comfortable enough on my hubbys earnings to not need it, but I stopped working before Christmas so have been relying on OH since my last salary was used up. It would have been nice to have had a bit of money of my own in my bank account.

The lady I spoke to assured me any payments missed would be backdated, so I would not miss out, but thats beside the bloody point. If I was relying on that benefit, I'd be screwed. I'd imagine many women are in this situation so do feel for them. I'm indignant on their behalf.

So I just have to wait 2 weeks she said to hear from them. And then hopefully will receive a payment after that. So, that'll be ooooo in about a month then by my reckoning

I need chocolate now dammit

 

[monster_munch]

I didn't get anything until DD was born

 

[Suzie and Faith]

awww! is it like that everywhere? i took my form in yesterday - as i've only just found out i can't get SMP and had to apply for MA instead. I rely on the money. I'm sure my OH will help but we're pretty skint and i need it.

Silly people. What do they expect us to do!

 

[Sherlock]

awww! is it like that everywhere? i took my form in yesterday - as i've only just found out i can't get SMP and had to apply for MA instead. I rely on the money. I'm sure my OH will help but we're pretty skint and i need it.

Silly people. What do they expect us to do!

I'm not sure, but don't be too hopeful is my advice, at least that way you'll be prepared if they do let you down

Afaik they all go to a central office and are dealt with out of there. I had to call the national MA helpline number and they go on your NI number and name. And its all in the database.

My local Jobcentre doesn't deal with any of the MA stuff. It all goes to the central office somewhere.

Hopefully you will hear back from them and it'll be good news. The woman I spoke to said it was a general backlog and if things got really desparate money wise I could call them back and see if I could get moved to the top of the pile, otherwise to wait.

 

[DebbieM]

Firstly.. have some of this:

Then these:

 

[jue]

Try not to let it get you down, and on the positive, you will have a nice little lump sum when it does come through,

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks ladies

In a fit a grrrr-y-ness I baked some choc chip cookies and am now waiting for the timer to go *ding*, well actually to go *cock-a-doodle-dooooo* as its a rooster one my mother gave me for Christmas

 

[Babylicious]

 

[xkikix]

What is maternity allowance? I'm only entitled to SMP I think...

 

[Sherlock]

What is maternity allowance? I'm only entitled to SMP I think...

It's what you claim if you can't claim SMP

I quit my job before Christmas so cannot claim SMP from my boss. So have to claim from the Gov and get it paid via the Jobcentre. Same thing, just different

 

[DebbieM]

Thanks ladies

In a fit a grrrr-y-ness I baked some choc chip cookies and am now waiting for the timer to go *ding*, well actually to go *cock-a-doodle-dooooo* as its a rooster one my mother gave me for Christmas

Mmm! can I please have a cookie?

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks ladies

In a fit a grrrr-y-ness I baked some choc chip cookies and am now waiting for the timer to go *ding*, well actually to go *cock-a-doodle-dooooo* as its a rooster one my mother gave me for Christmas

Mmm! can I please have a cookie?

Ummm you could but hubby and I just eated them all

Sorry

They were yum though My own made up recipe to boot

 

[paradysso]

thats really weird they are telling you this... as i have just claimed MA... applications from our area were normally done in exeter by ONE!!! LADY, BUT 5 weeks ago they moved the MA office to yeovil and have a whole team doing it, and say the turn around is 5 days max.


i had problems when i claimed mine as im male on the system dont ask me, and they cant change it so i have a lady processing mine by hand every 4 weeks. i explained i needed the money asap as im the main earner and she did it within a day.

i would ring the yoevil office direct and speak to them, they are really helpful. maybe the backlog was at the main sorting office in bristol before they disperse the forms to the right departments???

 

[Sherlock]

thats really weird they are telling you this... as i have just claimed MA... applications from our area were normally done in exeter by ONE!!! LADY, BUT 5 weeks ago they moved the MA office to yeovil and have a whole team doing it, and say the turn around is 5 days max.

i would ring the yoevil office direct and speak to them, they are really helpful. maybe the backlog was at the main sorting office in bristol before they disperse the forms to the right departments???

Hmmmm

I'll call the number I was given and ask them to clarify things again for me. I can't recall where I had to send the paperwork off to now, so not sure where it is sat piled up. It was an 0845 tel number I dialled. My forms arrived on Feb 11 they tell me so you'd hope it'd be done.

I'll chase them tomorrow armed with the info you've given me. Thanks for that

 

[paradysso]

ive got a direct number to mat allowance office in yeovil, any forms get sent to bristol, its their head office and they send them to relevant departments from there.

when i was first told be exeter there was a back log, i phoned them every day but once it moved office it was simple to sort.


this is he number hun 0845 6088780 maternity allowance... hope u get some where

 

[Sherlock]

this is he number hun 0845 6088780 maternity allowance... hope u get some where

That's the number I called today I spent 10 minutes on the phone with a woman discussing it all so I can only guess they really do have a backlog from mid January That's a bloody months worth, so how they think they will clear it in 2 weeks I don't know. Live in hope eh

I doubt calling back tomorrow will see any change

Thanks anyways If I hear any different from them I'll be sure to let you know

 

[paradysso]

maybe ask to speak to manager i only spoke to them again 2 days ago as i want to claim the extra for dependants and she said she will get on to it right away.



i would still keep pestering, it does work

 

[Tegala-7thMarch08]