ending Conts Jobseekers to go on Maternity Allowance

RobotsinDisguse

Hi all,

I've searched but have found very little online about Maternity Allowance & being on Jobseekers.

I was made redundant shortly after getting pregnant. I had worked for many years previous in local governement, so was entitled to Contribution Based Job Seekers. As my skills were very specialised, I was Very grateful to all the help & advice the Jobcentre gave me regarding my CV & transferable skills.

However, I did not secure a job before I began to show. I'm now 6 1/2 months (30 weeks) pregnant and my advisor has said that realistically no-one would hire me, so it's time to go on to Maternity Allowance. We believe I am entitled to this as I worked througout the qualifiying period (and much more).

What I'm curious about (and what the Jobcentre advisor doesnt know either), is Do I End Jobseekers first or request the Maternity Allowance first?

It seems odd to be requesting MA now when, if I were working, I'd be working untill c.34 weeks...

Also, and this will sound cheeky, but the Advisor first raised the question! You get 9 months of MA... so is that calculated from when you first claim? Or from when you are 'entitled to claim'? (which I think is 29 weeks.)

And as my 6 months of Contribution Based Jobseekers runs out in mid May, so should I just ask for MA to be begun then? (I've just done the working out and co-incidentally I'll be 34 weeks then).

Any advice or personal experience of the process would be greatly recieved.

Indie_Kid

Would you be able to work until your JSA ends in May?

RobotsinDisguse

I think so. If I had not been made redundant I would have planned to end at about c.34 weeks.

I am happy to keep looking / applying for jobs... If the advisor is right and no one would hire me now I just feel bad that I'd be wasting their time!

I'd previously gone quite easily from one Council job into the next so being unemployed is new to me, so it is all good experience Plus helping me to understand where I need to re-skill for getting work after the baby. So I'm taking a course that will help me find work, which due to being on Conts Jobseekers is partly funded... oh, If I end my jobseekers early will that affect the course funding?

RobotsinDisguse

red_devil wrote: »

I totally agree that any of the hitlers who sanction people at the jobcentre and its overturned at appeal should be fired. They might think ywice about being so bullish snd heavy handed then.

Also incompetencies on their part should be investigated. It would be in the police force.

I think maybe you've replied to the wrong post?

I might be swimming against the tide, but I have found the job centre process to be very helpful... From CV writing advice to help getting on a course that diversifies my existing skills, to support when I was down, even assisting me when I was hospitalised for a while & couldn't job search or sign-on.

The issue now is neither my advisor or the Great Google can tell me
A) which order to do things in, &
if the MA is a set 9 mths from claim time, or limited against pgcy week (9 mths from wk 29)

I am slightly worried about being sanctioned regarding accidentally overlapping by starting MA whilst still on JSA... Hence my question... But if I am, it couldn't be for long due to my Conts period ending soon, and as I'd have done all I can do to avoid it, then so be it. (It'd be the processing times etc that'd do it I reckon, once I've discovered the Right order to do the paperwork in).

red_devil

Yes wrong post sorry:D

the jobcentre make seem helpful at the start bit as you go further through the system the respect goes. They then start the pressure and the harrassing.

Mrs_Soup

It may have changed but I was in exactly your position in 2010 and I had to start maternity allowance at the earliest possible date payable - 29 weeks- rather than being allowed to continue on contribution based JSA. If you haven't applied already for maternity allowance I would get on and do it as you can claim once you get to 26 weeks. You might find you have to return any JSA claimed while you should/could have been on maternity allowance. As I say though this was 4 years ago.

RobotsinDisguse

Easily done Red Devil

Thanks Mrs Soup - seems odd as I could/would still be working, but that's something that worried me... So I'll post off the forms right away. Thank you.

Air_Cooled_75

I thought MA took into consideration employment from a certain period at your choosing, it's been 4 years for me so I can't really remember.

Can't you supply details between 2 dates? I don't know about JA coming into play, I took redundancy in the April before I had my baby, I had only worked at the company since November (I had no idea I was pregnant but did wonder why my shirt was bit tight for the interview!) they did check I would still be eligible for MA before they accepted my application though. I had worked *pretty* much constantly for the last 2 years.

Probably not much help but thought I'd post just in case.

RobotsinDisguse

Thanks Air Cooled, that's what I thought the date thing meant. I was there 5 yrs so fingers crossed i will be eligible.

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Still not sure re switching from JSA to MA process though..

RobotsinDisguse

I thought I post this here for anyone searching in the future.

...over in the Families board someone posted this link for me. Their help sheets are in plain English, so easier for me to understand thank the governments pages. There might be some info there for anyone else having issues... Try the one called Money For Parents & Babies first.

http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp/advice-2/advice-a-z/

Sadly it doesn't go into enough detail for my question but was v useful nevertheless.