maternity allowance questions!?!

highhopes19

I'm 6 months pregnant and going to be claiming Maternity allowance very soon. As I didn't earn enough in the qualifying months to get maternity pay from
My employer.

I've looked online and my test period is between june 2010- october 2011.

If I've read it right it says I can pick which wage slips I send they don't have to be in a row just aslong as their in the test period that's fine.
I've picked 3 monthly ones that covered 15 weeks(they have to cover 13 or 14 weeks I think).

The ones I've picked are:
Ocotber 2010: £670.15
November 2010: £746.53
March 2011: £522.60

Is there anything that could stop me getting maternity allowance?
Is national insurance contributions taken into account? I'm not self-employed I work in for a retail employer, and because my income is quite low I haven't paid a great deal of national insurance,
So that is worrying me, but I have looked on line and been told by my sister in law who received it that national insurance has nothing to do with it only if your self employed, is this true?

Also is there a way of working out myself if I'll get the full £128 a week from this, do I work out the weekly wage and divide by 13 to get the average?

Also, when claiming tax credits when baby is here, what would I put MA through as if that makes sense, as someone told me I don't need to mention the full £128 as they don't count the first £100 a week maternity benefit?
and would being on maternity allowance mean I get more tax credits, as its not an income?

Sorry for all the questions, just wanna be prepared so me and partner can start our budget plan in the morning


Many thanks

Holly
X

highhopes19

Can anyone help :-( please...

I'll add that on the 3 above pay slips I have paid SOME national insurance, as they are my 3 highest ones in the test period. I was told to pick the highest ones, so I'd qualify for the highest amount

If anyone can answer the above questions I'll be so greatful, as I'm going round in circles with it at the moment!

Many thanks

MsShorty

Hi, try this useful link, which has loads of information on how Maternity Allowance is calculated.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

AFAIK, as long as you have been paying some NI contributions, you will qualify. My daughter currently receives Maternity Allowance with similar earnings to you and receives the full amount of Maternity Allowance.

The link I have provided has lots of useful links/online leaflets to clarify the matter for you.

My advice would be to apply as soon as you are able to, so that your payments are in place for when you start your maternity leave. This is what my daughter did and they took approximately two weeks to confirm her eligibility for Maternity Allowance.

As for Tax Credits, Maternity Allowance is fully disregarded (unlike SMP where only £100 per week disregard), resulting in entitlement to more tax credits.

Anyway, good luck with everything. Hopefully the link I have provided will clarify things for you. If not, as I have said, apply as soon as you are able. Once you know how much you are entitled to, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Aginoth

to get MA you need to

- have worked for 26 out of the Last 66 weeks prior to EWC (Expected Week of Childbirth)
- have earned at least £30 in any 13 weeks of the last 66 weeks prior to EWC

you should read this... http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/

The Earliest you can Claim is 11 weeks before EWC

Tax credits and Disability Living Allowance are not affected by Maternity Allowance, it does not count as income for Tax Credits but Tax Credits Office should still be told.

If this is your first child you should check with Tax Credits if you drop in income will mean you are going to receive Child Element of CTC as well as Family Element. If you do Then you will probably be eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 per child. It is possible thay will say they can't advise you on that in which case get in touch with CAB abd ask them to do a Benefits Check and Tax Credit review, they will be able to work out if you qualify.

highhopes19

MsShorty wrote: »

Hi, try this useful link, which has loads of information on how Maternity Allowance is calculated.


AFAIK, as long as you have been paying some NI contributions, you will qualify. My daughter currently receives Maternity Allowance with similar earnings to you and receives the full amount of Maternity Allowance.

The link I have provided has lots of useful links/online leaflets to clarify the matter for you.

My advice would be to apply as soon as you are able to, so that your payments are in place for when you start your maternity leave. This is what my daughter did and they took approximately two weeks to confirm her eligibility for Maternity Allowance.

As for Tax Credits, Maternity Allowance is fully disregarded (unlike SMP where only £100 per week disregard), resulting in entitlement to more tax credits.

Anyway, good luck with everything. Hopefully the link I have provided will clarify things for you. If not, as I have said, apply as soon as you are able. Once you know how much you are entitled to, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

thankyou, that a real weight lifted:).

i would ideally like to take my maternity leave at 33 weeks, as i have 4 weeks of holiday left to take before it starts .

i was told over the phone by payrole a few months ago i wouldnt qualify for SMP, so im just waiting for them to send the form as i took my matb1 form into work just over a week ago, so hopefully this week i shall hear somthing to get the ball rolling about maternity allowance .

the only national insurance i have paid 2010-2011 (i didnt pay any before as i was only doing 4 hours a week previously) is just over £500.

thankyou again

holly
x

highhopes19

thankyou for the great links boh of you, im taking notes from both

should i ring them and ask them this before i apply in november or wait till i actually apply.

i was booking an appointment with CAB on monday so i'll get that checked then aswell.

i phoned tax credits a few months back and they gave me a quote on how much i could get based on the figures i gave them then, but my partner got his P60 from his manager late so i didnt have them when i phoned. so i over priced his earnings for 2010/2011 by £4000, i have absolutly no idea how but i think its because last year he was at college and only worked 4 days a week then, where as i quoted him on the same as his earning now, if that makes sense. so i said he earnt £12,000 when infact from P60 he only got £8,165.

as it was only a quote and i havent been paid any money from them, i didnt think it would matter that i made the mistake. but when it comes to actually claiming will this genuine mistake i made go against me?.

Shopaholiski

So I'm 30 weeks + 1 day pregnant and I am terrified. I am fairly organised to be fair but I keep panicking about things - Will labour be painful? How will I cope financially?
I am working hard to pay off debts and I am not doing too badly, although it is very easy to put baby things on my Next card - very dangerous. I should really stay away from the shops.
I also feel really frumpy and I am not happy with my clothes at all, but can't justify buying anything new:(
Today the midwife signed my Sure Start Maternity Grant form - as this is my first baby, this is one of the few things I'm entitled to. Can't believe the things they've cut - health in pregnancy grant, child trust fund. I've worked hard all my life up until now and as soon as I'm pregnant and in a situation where I need money, it turns out I've missed the boat for everything. Typical!