Pregnancy and JSA

gemz86

Hi there. Im a bit confused as to what benefit i should be claiming. I am currently 26 weeks pregnant and classed as single as i live with my parents. I lost my job when i was just 6 weeks pregnant and needless to say i haven't been able to find another job. Im claiming JSA and have been now for 11 weeks or so. I am under the understanding that at 29 weeks pregnant i will no longer be eligible for JSA as technically i will be 'incapable of working'. I was originally told that i would have to claim income support after this date however i will soon be moving in with my partner and so i don't think i will be a able to claim this as i won't be a single parent to be. My partner was working until recently but he has back problems and needs an operation so is claiming ESA at the moment. He may also be entitled to DLA but has not claimed this yet. He will probably be claiming these for a while as we have not yet had an operation date yet and he will have at least a 6 month recovery time afterwards. Im just wondering what i will have to do when my 29 week deadline comes.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Indie_Kid

You might be able to claim ESA instead? I have no idea of figures; but as someone who is pregnant, you're classed as incapable of work for x amount of weeks before and after the birth of your baby.

tronski

Can you apply for maternity allowance? You have to have worked for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your due date. Partners income doesn't affect it.

I've just received all my forms back and get £124 a week. You need to have your payslips for at least 13 of the weeks worked - you can send in your highest wage slips and the amount of allowance is averaged from this.

gemz86

Thanks Tronski, i will look into this as i was working until January so should just qualify. Does it matter that i changed jobs in those weeks?

tronski

Not as far as I know. You just list your employers on the form - you can download this on the net or pick it up from the job centre. The form was fairly easy to complete and it took just under 3 weeks to get a decision back from them.

oldmotherreilly

Are you receiving JSA(conts) or JSA(IB), as this makes a difference. If you are in receipt of JSA(Conts) you can theoretically claim this until the day before you give birthbut if you are on JSA(IB) and you are single, then you would be best off moving to Income Support 11 weeks before the expected date of confinement. If you do move in to your OH's place, then he can add you to his ESA claim.