Hi All

My wife is expecting, and is approx 6 weeks pregnant.

She plans to quit work at the end of the years, the agency is laying her off anyway, and what with being pregnant will not be looking for work.

Question is will she be able to claim maternity allownace?

By my calculation she will have worked over 26 weeks in the last 66 weeks b4 the baby is born, but on the government website it says must be working to claim this, does it mean you have to by litteraly in work when you put the claim in?

Or is the 26 week rule all that is needed?

Its quite susbstanial, 108 quid a week for 26 weeks, going up next year to 36 weeks i believe, anyone ever claimed, can shed any light??

cheers

Carlo

They also get 90% of their pay for the first 6/8 weeks, as she notified her work of the date she wishes to stop working in writing? One month before she wants to stop? Good luck.

A rhetorical question here;but does your wife have to be on ILR or above to claim maternity allowance?
What about working wives who are paying contributions but are still on a spouse visa?
Is this not using public funds?

Paul.

She is only agency, and has been told they will finish end of the year.

Anyone aware if she will be able to claim or not?

quote:

A rhetorical question here;but does your wife have to be on ILR or above to claim maternity allowance?

The fact is that there are no maternity-related benefits within the definition of Public Funds, and accordingly no problem claiming, if the conditions for such a benefit are met.