Maternity pay & universal credit

Hi all, Wondering if someone can clear this up for me as I feel like I’m being told 2 different things. I finish my job today - I was contracted for maternity cover in my job and the woman has come back and today is my last day. I’ve sent the form off for maternity pay from the Gov already. But wondering do I need to apply for universal credit? If so it would be couple based as it’s me and my better half that live together and will raise our little one. But I’ve been told that universal credit will take money off mat pay but then I’m being told that it doesn’t so I’m just trying to figure out what I should do and how it will affect me? Thanks ☺️

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Are you going to be receiving maternity allowance rather than statutory maternity pay? x

@Aimee I’ll be getting maternity allowance not statutory x

So from what I know, because it’s maternity allowance they treat it as earnings and deduct off UC payment x

I found this on the internet for you, I hope this helps! X I have just had my first baby and am getting Maternity Allowance. I have claimed Universal Credit but have been told that I do not qualify, is there anything else I can claim? Maternity Allowance is taken into account in full for Universal Credit. If you are a lone parent with one child and no housing costs, the amount you receive from Maternity Allowance may be higher than your maximum Universal Credit. This would mean that you would not be entitled to any Universal Credit.

You should check whether you are better off claiming Maternity Allowance or claiming Universal Credit as Universal Credit may enable you to claim other benefits such as the Sure Start Maternity Grant/Best Start Grant, Cost of Living paymentsand other benefits, see below. You can end your Maternity Allowance claim if you would be better off without Maternity Allowance payments. https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/money-for-parents-and-babies/

Thank you @Aimee for this and to @Gemma for posting this question, really helpful. I’m self employed and will be claiming MA but I hadn’t considered whether not claiming MA and just claiming UC might be better, I’m going to look into this. 🙌🏼

I get SMP and a bit from UC too, you would have to do a joint claim ( you and your partner ) and it will also go based off what your partner earns too… worth a try you might be entitled to something x

I was on maternity allowance as I hadn’t been at my job long enough and I decided to cancel that and apply for UC instead as it made more sense I did get less but I managed to get the £500 grant and also healthy start card so just depends on your circumstances.