Maternity benefit following short term conctract

[peteb]

Mrs Peteb got made redundant in December 2011. She wasn't able to find any work and was on jobseekers benefit. We're now pregnant with the baby due in February 2013. She's manage to get some short term work for the next month or so.

But when she went into talk to them in SW office and sign off, the first woman she spoke to said that she wasnt entitled to materity benefit (despite having asked someone else last week and got a different story). She explained what the other woman had said and this person then went off and asked someone else who said she had to apply for jobseekers allowance first. Which we know is not the case so can anyone explan what the correct process is here?

Thanks in advance.

 

[eastbono]

tbh its impossible to know if Mrs peteb will qualify or not. You say she will be working for the next month or so and baby is due in Feb 2013.... have a look at the qualifying criteria for mat benefit and the best thing she can do is apply... if she does not qualify she can apply for supplementary welfare allowance or jobseekers. If she still qualifies for jobseekers benefit then all is fine but if she only qualifies for jobseekers allowance or supplementary allowance then your earnings will be assessed as means. Of course she could apply for illness benefit if she has pregnancy problems.

 

[peteb]

How is it impossible to know? She fits the qualifying criteria in that her tax is paid for the relevant year.

 

[Nutso]

If she fits the criteria, she should just apply for MB. She has to be in insurable employment on the day she goes on ML and at least 24 weeks pregnant, so she should probably take ML once this short term contract is finished.