Urgent advice needed re: maternity allowance

ParadiseKidd

Hi,

I am due to leave work on Friday and still haven't received confirmation of Maternity Allowance despite having applied weeks ago. I have the day off work today so I decided to chase up the application, expecting them to just be delayed of something.

Anyway to cut a long story short (I have been passed around EVERYWHERE!) I have been told;

1. Regional Job Centres do not deal with MA anymore (even though you send your form there)
2. It is dealt with centrally and this central place can be contacted on 01782 4260 66
3. This number is engaged the majority of the time and when it does ring it just rings out
4. The Job Centre have NOTHING to do with the application. 'Maternity Allowance' is a separate entity entirely, in fact the word used was a separate 'company' named (wait for it) 'Maternity Allowance'?!?! I would've laughed at him if he hadn't then said 'look we're goin round in circles here love, theres nobody here to help you'... I hung up BEFORE going mental... I decided a frustration + hormone attack on the guy would get me nowhere fast

ARGH! What on earth do I do - how do I chase up my application when the processing of these claims takes place somewhere that is totally not contactable?

Is anyone else having problems ? My partner has just taken a new job, and we are low on cash because of the delay with his first wages (we were totally strapped for cash before that anyway). Luckily my final months wages won't be paid in for a few weeks, so at least I know I have some cash coming my way. Despite this I am really concerned that I am going to end up with a period of no income, when my student overdraft is already nearly at its limit!!!

Can anyone direct me to a more helpful phone number ? :mad:

Thanks xxx

onlyroz

I had the same problem, with everyone telling me I had to call someone else. I claimed maternity allowance 3 years ago. Try calling the Broadstairs office, which is in Kent: 01843 873000

Whether or not they're actually *your* office, they definitely deal with maternity allowance and incapacity benefit (which as far as they are concerned are the same thing) and should be able to point you in the right direction.

starbump

I claimed MA last year and only dealt with my local job centre. Did have to keep chasing up the paperwork though.

ParadiseKidd

Thanks for the number, it got me much more helpful people, but sadly they cannot help in the end!!

From the Kent number I was given 08456088626 - straight through to an incredibly helpful lady somewhere in ramsgate who told me to ask to speak to a supervisor if anyone tried to 'bully' me She was unimpressed by the people I had spoken to so far, which put a smile on my face!

She gave me 08456088595 and they answered!!!! However they cover MA claims for some other area to me :mad:

They gave me the number for my local MA office... 'longton' 01782 426044/2 :eek:... constantly engaged!!! ARGH! ! ! ! !

onlyroz

I'd try back with one of the numbers where people answered and ask if they know of any other numbers.

I remember, when I tried to claim my self, being extremely unimpressed with the administration of maternity allowance. For those of us not eligible for statutory maternity pay (where your employer would sort out all the paperwork for you) it's certainly hard work because you have to do all the chasing up yourself.

The thing that got me the most was that the application form did not include an address for where to post it off to. I rang round all the local job centre plus branches, and they passed me from one branch to another, until I was finally directed to the Broadstairs people, who sorted it out for me.

It took me ages to figure out that I was eligible in the first place. At the time I was a student, and my funding research council told me that as I wasn't an employee I wasn't entitled to anything. The advice I was given was to quit my PhD and go on the dole. I then figured out that because I had had a part time job in the previous year that I was eligible for maternity allowance, and then the fun began...

onlyroz

I've found this number, for the Longton Job Centre: 01782 592300

Also try:
01782 426037
01782 426044

feecarlisle

Hi

The best number i have found so far is 08456088780 got thro after a couple of attempts.

Also address freepost plus
Jobcentre plus
Yeovil
Gloucester road north
Bristol
bs80 8aw

I know that there is a back log of 8 weeks which is terrible but they did send me a letter advising me.

lisa118

I applied 9 weeks ago (11 weeks before my due date). I received an acknowledgement on the 19 June but todate no money!! I finally got through on the 0845 6088 780 tel number today after weeks of trying (i don't have a BT line so it's cost me a fortune in phone calls). I was advised that they are now working on applications received at the beginning of May, so i will have to wait at least another 4-5 weeks until I receive any money. My baby is due in 10 days. I am having to survive on my child benefit and tax credits that I currently receive for my son. My partner is not very well paid (he brings home £230 pw) but our income is still too high to qualify for help with our council's rent and the council tax, so that has to paid in full. Along with the rising fuel charges and cost of food, we are finding just surviving a struggle. This country is going to the dogs!!!!!!!!!

foreversomeday

Any updates on this?

I applied a week ago, (15 Aug) and backdated my claim to 20 July, because I last worked on 19 July, but needed to get payslips etc sorted. I haven't even heard back from them yet but the stories of backlog etc are worrying me. We literally cannot survive on my DF's wage, we have debts to pay as well as bills and we are having trouble claiming working tax credit too because our joint income was too much over the last tax year (Lost my job at the end of March!) So have to apply for that and then appeal and ask them to take change of circumstance into account.

It's so depressing especially when we have friends who don't work and are expecting and they are better off than we are because all their bills, rent etc is covered by the council! Whereas we are forced to borrow money because I need to eat - I will not put the health of my baby at risk. In a vicious circle at the moment because I can't work while the MA claim is going through but I can't claim benefits for being unable to work because that's what the MA is supposed to cover.