Are you set to apply for maternity allowance? There is currently a backlog of applications that you need to be made aware of.

Maternity Allowance helps mummies everywhere who are ineligible for SMP or company maternity pay; it isn’t much, but it is a huge help in getting us through our maternity leave and covering important costs. We’re incredibly lucky to have access to such a system, as many countries don’t have standard maternity pay, but it can be inconvenient when a system that you’ve planned to use has issues that could impact you.

The Department of Work and Pensions is warning mummies to be that the system is facing a backlog; the duration mummies are being told has varied but we’re being told it is currently a 12 week wait. However, there are mums who have already had their babies who are still waiting and who are now relying on the kindness of friends and family, Universal Credit advances, credit cards and overdrafts, to get by.

We think that this is really important news; the sooner you’re made aware, the sooner you and your partner can get organised to try and bridge the gap.

Affected mums have been setting social media ablaze with their annoyance at the backlog, and we can’t say we blame them – it must be incredibly frustrating!

Maternity allowance is a joke!! How am I supposed to go 14 weeks without getting paid a penny yet still pay rent/tax/food etc