Maternity allowence

[Onedaysoon25]

They probably hoped you wouldn't dispute it. Well worth paying it to get the full amount x

 

[cassi]

That's good! Glad you managed to get it sorted. They *should* have let you know that was an option when you got your entitlement through. It's bad that they don't make it clearer

 

[redbear]

That's good! Glad you managed to get it sorted. They *should* have let you know that was an option when you got your entitlement through. It's bad that they don't make it clearer

They don't like you to know so they can give you less money. I'm not even joking HMRC are a horror when it comes to paying out anything. Xx

 

[SalisburyMum]

How long did it take them to update your claim?

They sent me a letter saying I only got £27 a week and that I have to pay HRMC who won't let me pay before I get a letter from them to take to the post office???

So I'm wondering how long after that they sort it? Ive been on maternity for 3 weeks now and haven't had a penny!!

 

[becsybabe]

Hiya call maternity allowence and ask them when you will receive your first payment as you have no income coming in. That's what I did and they back dated me and put the arrears in my bank that afternoon xx

 

[Rose83]

I really don't understand maternity allowance. I'm basically a stay at home mum now but was employed until November last year so I may have been filling in the calculator wrong anyway but the way I had done it originally I put I was unemployed and hadn't earned anything and it said I could have £27 a week for 14 weeks. Then I realised I needed to declare a contract job where I got paid £390 and it then said I was entitled to nothing. Really can't work out how that works - anyone know? X

 

[Vickilou25]

I don't get it either I've got to apply for it and hate the not knowing what I'm going to get I work 10hours a week but don't qualify for smp

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

 

[becsybabe]

If in doubt just fill in the forms send them off and they will tell you if your entitled to anything xx

 

[Rose83]

Viciki did you use the online calculator as that should give you an idea?

I think I've been working it all out wrong anyway - as I was employed full time (but was on maternity leave) until Novemeber last year it looks like I might be entitled to the full £140 x39 weeks which is amazing if I am! X

 

[cassi]

So I got the £27 letter too. Apparently it's a standard letter that goes out until they've received info from HMRC re national insurance. I had to pay £36 too but didn't have to wait for a letter just called HMRC and they gave me bank transfer details to send money as they couldn't do it over phone. Did that and got a letter a week later saying I would get full maternity allowance.

For maternity allowance you must've been working SE for 26 weeks prior to your due date. They take your income based on I believe 10 weeks pay and you can choose your *best* weeks to increase the likelihood of full entitlement. Full entitlement 90% of your income or £140 per week, whichever is least. £140 p/w is the max you'll get regardless of income so for me I'm at quite a loss on that. You can work 10 'checking in days' but no more, without it being affected. When you apply all dates you need to put in based on your DD are at the top so it's easy to do that part. You have to have paid class 2 NICS for full entitlement , if you haven't done this you can phone up and pay voluntarily even if you hadn't earnt enough to owe them. Otherwise you'll automatically be offered the lowest amount which is £27 p/w.

I think I've worked it out now but please correct me if I've made a mistake! X

 

[Rose83]

That sounds basically right Cassi, although I think it's 13 weeks they look at. £140 (the maximum amount) is the same as statutory maternity pay which you get as an employee of the company, so if you've been given the top amount then you're no worse off than someone who is employed vs self employed. And the 10 keeping in touch days are also allowed as an employee. But you're right that is doesn't seem like very much compared with your full pay! X

 

[cassi]

That sounds basically right Cassi, although I think it's 13 weeks they look at. £140 (the maximum amount) is the same as statutory maternity pay which you get as an employee of the company, so if you've been given the top amount then you're no worse off than someone who is employed vs self employed. And the 10 keeping in touch days are also allowed as an employee. But you're right that is doesn't seem like very much compared with your full pay! X

As far as I was aware statutory maternity pay from a company is 6 weeks at 90% so you're better off in that respect. Also, whilst in receipt of stat mat you can work on a self employed basis as much as you like.

But no, nothing like what I currently earn, I think when the amount is below a certain percentage of an income they should allow more check in days to help when funds get very low without the need to fully return to work early.

 

[Rose83]

Yes you are right - and some companies just pay full pay for those 6 weeks.
I didn't know about the doing self employed work though x

 

[SalisburyMum]

They've still not sorted mine, I'm 33 weeks tomorrow.

Useless company! I'll have had this baby before I can even buy a bloody baby chair!!

 

[Rose83]

That's terrible! I can't apply for mine til I see the midwife on Monday because I don't have a Matb1 form. Because she knows I don't work anymore she didn't think about me needing it for claiming mat allowance as I was employed until November last year. I'll be 28 weeks so hope that's enough time for them to sort something out x

 

[SalisburyMum]

They've sent me another letter today, saying I now get the full amount but asking again when I go on maternity leave! I went on maternity leave on the 29th April!!!!

I've told them (Now three times) and I'm going to call them on Monday, its just so damn inefficient and I have SO MUCH I still need to get.

It can't take another 20 days, I'll nearly have had the baby and I've not been able to buy a bloody baby chair or anything

Fortunately my fella has painted my bedroom today, so at least that's done, I have to get things sorted, I am so so stressed out.

 

[becsybabe]

Ring them and tell them u have no income coming in since you finished already I did that and they did a bacs pay that day for me and then every two weeks after that xx

 

[Mumbear]

I've read that if you left your job whilst pregnant you could be entitled to mat allowance but does anyone know how far into your pregnancy you have to be to qualify?

I'm currently working but don't know if I will be staying much longer and trying to work out finances if I did leave. Ive looked online but I can't seem to find an definite answer

 

[Onedaysoon25]

There is something you can fill in online to see if you're eligible. Just type in gov maternity allowance and you should find what you're looking for x

 

[Rose83]

Mumbear use the calculator on gov.uk website. Basically if you leave your job while pregnant you will be entitled to mat allowance but they need to calculate how much. So you need to have been employed by the company for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to giving birth. They take a consecutive 13 week period from those weeks (you pick your best weeks) as a 'test period' where they work out how much NI you've paid to see what you are entitled to.

You can put some theoretical amounts in the online calculator based on if you stopped work and see what it comes up with x