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Pregnancy

Am I entitled to any maternity benefits or allowances?

4 replies

findingout · 03/03/2009 17:50

Hello, I am a regular who has namechanged. NC because I am not very pregnant yet iykwim.

I was employed up untill sept last year. I was made redundant then. I am 7 weeks pregnant and not going to get maternity pay (smp)

I am due in Oct , aound the 21st.

My friend told me today that I might be allowed Maternity allowance as I have been employed recently.

Looked online and it says I need to have worked for 26 weeks in the qualifiying time. Which is 66 weeks up to the week before the baby is due. I dont think I will fit into this though

It then said I may qualify for something else. Does anyone know what this might be?

TIA

OP posts:

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susiey · 03/03/2009 17:56

maybe the sure start maternity grant but depends on total income of family

also healthy eating grant which is not means tested

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VJay · 03/03/2009 18:53

not sure finingout but take a look at the direct gov website.

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lou031205 · 03/03/2009 19:12

Hi, basically you only get MA if you have 26 weeks work in the period that covers 6 months before you fell pregnant till the week of your due date. So if you are due on 21st October, your 'test period' started on 13th July 2008. Depending on whether you were made redundant at the beginning or end of September, you have between 7 and 11 weeks that you can count.

What that means is that if you take a job for between 15 and 19 weeks, even one day per week, you will qualify for MA.

You need to bear in mind that you submit your best 13 weeks' pay slips, not necessarily consecutive. So if you were working full time in July, August and September, you can submit those payslips, even if you only get a 1 hour per week job for 15 weeks now.

If you don't want to get a job, then you may qualify for Incapacity benefit 6 weeks before the birth and 2 weeks after.

You will automatically qualify for the Health in Pregnancy Grant of £190, which you claim using a form your Midwife will give you in your 25th week of pregnancy.

You may qualify for the Sure Start Maternity Grant if you are on a low family income.

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findingout · 03/03/2009 19:52

Thanks everyone.

I was made redundant at the beginning of september so prob only 7 weeks that I can count. I can't get a job as I have 2 dc's and no childcare. The job I had was a nanny job where my children came too. Had it before dc. I'd had it for 11 years. I don't think I'd get a job with 2 dc in tow now.

What are the qualifications for the incapasity benefit please? I think I should ring CAB tomorrow!