Self employed maternity leave

I just stay on the phone for as long as possible and eventually they answer! I’ve just paid my NI too, and it did increase mine to the max amount - I paid it back in September though, seems to take forever! I spoke to them yesterday and she said it should be done before my due date 🥴

I'm in the same boat. I think the only thing you can do is keep chasing them up. I got through to DWP after holding for about 40 mins. Applied asap in August hoping to begin leave at the start of November but currently been told I need to now wait another 3 weeks for a letter from HMRC.

Oh guys it’s so stressful isn’t it and not what you need at this time. I’ve been passed back and forth between Hmrc and dwp. @Ellie how long did it take for Hmrc to tell dwp to tell you that you’d qualified for the higher amount? I paid my ni two weeks ago so would have expected a letter by now. (Maybe optimistic!)

@emma thanks- will try again when I have the strength. I have committed to one of my clients until the end of the month because I just don’t know what I’ll have coming in. Feels like us self employed folk always have this. It’s like covid payments all over again. Still traumatised!

Not long! My original letter from DWP was the 11th sept, then got a letter on the 3rd oct from HMRC with the payment details for the NI, Paid it then - then got a letter randomly from DWP yesterday which didn’t make sense as it was the same as the one in sept haha. But when I rang she could access my HMRC page on her screen, and said she could see that I had made the payment and that I should get a letter confirming the full payment for 9 months or whatever it is asap! I get induced on Thursday so would love it to be figured out before then haha. This is my second pregnancy though, with my first when I did it it was a super quick turn around! Sent off the papers at the end of oct and got my first payment in nov when my son was born, they really do make it more stressful than they need too don’t they! xxx

Defo ring HMRC they told me what do do if I got the lower amount. There’s something you can do but I’m can’t remember what the name of the process is!

Thanks @Elise yes I had to pay some national insurance to get the higher amount. But I’m waiting to have it confirmed. So stressful 😥 the last thing you need when your whole life is about to get turned upside down

Yeah it’s definitely not an easy process to sort out! I only just got mine all sorted last week. Then you have to notify them when the baby is born as well!

Just spent half an hour on hold to Dwp and then… eventually… they hung up.

Just got through to them and they actually sorted out my payments on the phone. Worth persevering to speak to someone if you can!