Hi all, i was self employed til october this year for 2 years and payed my own nat insurance stamp, cat 2 standard. I applied for maternity pay about 8 weeks ago to start xmas day, im due 5th feb, and i got the form returned saying that it needed sending in 2 days later? I sent the forms back and since havent heard anything and am panicing as its due to start in less than 3 weeks and cant be on nothing!! Im currently on sick pay as i have been very ill and my note runs out end january so will they start from then or from when i requested and do they not write to you a few weeks before it starts, does it just get paid in?