Tag: mum’s
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Thousands of new mums on maternity leave to get a bumper £600 pay boost from TOMORROW – do you qualify?
THOUSANDS of new mums on maternity leave will get a bumper pay boost from tomorrow – here’s who qualifies.
Financial support for new mothers taking time off to care for their new-born will rise by £600 from tomorrow (Monday, April 10).
Over 40,000 new mothers will benefit from the bumper payment boost[/caption]
The government is boosting Maternity Allowance payments to help new mums cope with the rising cost of living.
The benefit provides a safety net for women before and after childbirth for up to 39 weeks and is designed to cover those who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay – usually because they are on low wages or are self-employed.
Those claiming Maternity Allowance will see their standard rate, worth up to £156.66 a week, rise by 10.1% on Monday.
The payment boost is worth £15.82 a week or £617 over the 39 weeks in which you can claim the cash.
It means the new weekly rate will hit £172.48.
The payment boost is expected to benefit around 40,000 mums through their maternity leave this year.
DWP minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said: “We want every child to have a good start in life, which is why we are increasing our support for mums.
“This builds on our extension of free childcare for working parents from this summer, alongside an increase to the Universal Credit childcare cost cap and further help with upfront payments.
“These changes will help parents progress in work and earn a better living to support their family.”
Working mothers receiving the standard rate of Statutory Maternity Pay from their employer saw their payments rise by 10.1% on April 2.
But here’s everything you need to know about Maternity Allowance as well as how to apply.
Who is eligible for Maternity Allowance?
You could be eligible for Maternity Allowance if you’re not entitled to maternity pay, you’re self-employed or you’ve recently stopped working.
The following must apply within the previous 66 weeks of your due date too:
- You must have been either employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks
- You must have been earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks – the weeks do not have to be together
If you’re self-employed you must have paid Class 2 National Insurance for at least 13 of the 66 weeks to get the full amount of £172.48 a week.
If this isn’t the case, you will still get £27 a week for 39 weeks.
If none of the above applies, you may still be able to get Maternity Allowance payments worth £27 paid for 14 weeks.
You could get this if within the previous 66 weeks of your due date, and for at least 26 weeks, you were:
- Married or in a civil partnership
- Not employed or self-employed
- Take part in the self-employed work of a partner or civil spouse
- Doing work for the business which is unpaid
- Married or civil partnered to someone who is registered self-employed with HMRC and should pay Class 2 National Insurance
- Not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay or the higher amount of Maternity Allowance
You can check your eligibility for Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity Pay using the calculator on Gov.UK.
If you can’t claim maternity benefits you might be able to get Universal Credit – here’s how to claim.
How much is Maternity Allowance?
Maternity Allowance is worth different amounts depending on your situation. The following rates will apply from Monday, April 10:
- 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) up to a maximum of £172.48 a week for 39 weeks
- £27 a week for 39 weeks, or
- £27 a week for 14 weeks.
How do I claim Maternity Allowance?
You can claim Maternity Allowance once you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks.
Payments usually start 11 weeks before your baby is due and is paid every two or four weeks.
Mothers can still launch claims within three months after giving birth and will still be entitled to the full 39 weeks’ worth of payments.
You should be aware that the money you get from Maternity Allowance can affect other benefits you get, including:
- Universal Credit
- Council tax reduction
- Housing benefit
- Employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) – this will stop if you get Maternity Allowance
- Bereavement benefits
- Carer’s allowance
It could also affect the amount you get because of the benefit cap.
If you’re eligible, to get the money you need to fill in the Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form.
You can do this online, or by printing it out and sending it by post – the address is on the form.
You’ll need to give information about your employment in the 66 weeks before your baby is due called the “test period”.
You will also need to include other documents when you send in your claim form:
- Proof of income
- Proof of a due date and birth
- Additional information
You should get a decision on your claim within 20 working days.
If you’re eligible, a form will be sent to you confirming your entitlement and asking you to confirm your last day of employment before leaving.
Other help for soon-to-be mums
You could also be eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant, which offers soon-to-be-parents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a one-off upfront sum of £500.
You can get prescriptions and dental treatment for free while you’re pregnant and for 12 months after your baby’s due date.
Ask your doctor or midwife for a maternity exemption certificate (MATEX) to claim the free care.
Under the Healthy Start programme, you may be entitled to free milk, infant formula or fruit and veg if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have a child under four and you’re on certain benefits.
And here are nine ways parents can get free food, nappies and essentials for babies if they are struggling.
King Charles and Camilla post touching Mother’s Day tribute dedicated to those ‘missing their mums’
KING Charles has paid tribute to his late mum the Queen in a touching Mother’s Day post.
The monarch, 74, joined the Queen Consort in sharing a heartfelt tribute to those “missing their mums” today.
King Charles has paid tribute to his late mum the Queen in a touching Mother’s Day post[/caption]
Camilla shared a throwback picture of her and her mum Rosalind Shand[/caption]
King Charles is seen with the Queen in 2021[/caption]
In a post on the Royal Family’s official Instagram page, Charles shared a picture of the Queen holding him as a toddler.
Her Majesty Elizabeth II died peacefully aged 96 in September last year.
And Camilla shared a throwback picture of her and her mum Rosalind Shand, who died in July 1994.
The post read: “To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special Mother’s Day”.
King Charles‘ grandchildren Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, have some very sweet traditions when it comes to celebrating Kate on Mother’s Day each year.
Mothering Sunday for the Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids often involves messy cake-baking sessions, homemade cards and also paying tribute to Diana.
While the day is one of celebration, paying tribute to the likes of Kate and also the Queen, it can be a painful day for Prince William and Prince Harry.
Duncan Larcombe, Royal Author and former Royal Editor of The Sun, told Fabulous: “It wasn’t until the aftermath of the Death of Princess Diana in 1997, that Mother’s Day took on an extra significance for the Royals.
“Since then, the fourth Sunday in the Christian festival of Lent – when Mother’s Day is marked in the UK – is shrouded in sadness for William and Harry.
“Both the boys have spoken about how difficult they find the day, which for years they would always dread.
“Prince Charles and the rest of the family were at pains to throw a ring of cotton wool around Diana’s children on the Mothering Sundays that followed her death.
“But this changed when first William and then Harry had children of their own.
“Now the focus is on using the day as a chance to tell their children about the amazing grandmother they never met.”
Charles and Camilla lead the Royal Family’s Mother’s Day posts today[/caption]
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Nicola Bulley: TikTok issues statement after mum’s family hit out at social media
TIKTOK has issued a statement after Nicola Bulley’s family hit out at social media’s involvement in the case.
The platform spoke out after cops confirmed yesterday that the body they had recovered from the River Wyre, Lancashire, was that of the missing-mum-of-two.
The body in the River Wyre was confirmed to be that of Nicola Bulley, 45[/caption]
Social media users have been criticised for spreading conspiracy theories about her disappearance[/caption]
A spokesperson for TikTok said the platform was ‘taking action’ against harmful content[/caption]
They offered their condolences to the family and promised they were “taking action” against online trolls.
The involvement of amateur sleuths in the search for Nicola during the more than three weeks that she was missing had drawn much criticism from her loved ones and the authorities alike.
One TikTok user sparked outrage by digging up woodland near where the 45-year-old vanished, while another was arrested for a public order offence after an altercation with a local resident.
In a statement in the wake of the tragic announcement, Nicola’s family said: “It saddens us to think that one day we will have to explain to [Nicola’s daughters] one day that… members of the public accused their dad of wrongdoing, misquoted and vilified friends and family.”
This referred to social media conspiracy theories around the involvement of Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell in her death.
Likewise, Michael Vincent, who heads the local council, said: “It’s almost as though social media idiocy and reality have become blurred.
“We’ve had these weirdos, these ghouls, trying people’s door handles, peering through their windows.”
A spokesperson for TikTok said: “Our thoughts are with Ms Bulley’s family and friends at this difficult time. We have mobilised resources to monitor the evolving conversation about this case.
“We are taking action against violations of our Community Guidelines, including removing content and accounts, and limiting the reach of some content by making it ineligible for recommendation.”
It comes after Nicola’s family reacted to the tragic news of her death in a statement released via cops.
They said: “We will never forget Nikki. How could we? She was the centre of our world. She was the one who made our lives so special and nothing will cast a shadow over that.
“Our girls will get the support they need from the people that love us the most.
It comes after:
- Police confirmed that Nicola’s body had been found in the River Wyre
- Nicola’s family said that they’ll never be able to “comprehend what Nikki went through” or “forget” the tragedy
- A ‘psychic’ claimed that he found the body during the search
- The Home Secretary was reported to be “not satisfied” over cop’s explanation of why they released information on Nicola’s “vulnerabilities”
- Dive expert Peter Faulding said “I did my best” in the search for the mum-of-two
- An ex-cop said that the body may have been “weighed down” before it was found
“To those that genuinely helped and supported us, privately, we thank you.
“The community support in St Michael’s, friends, neighbours and strangers, has been nothing short of comforting and heartwarming.
“Friends you know who you are, thank you.”
In their statement, Nicola’s family criticised press coverage of the search for the mum-of-two and hit out at harmful social media speculation.
They specifically mentioned two broadcasters who tried to contact them today, after they had ‘expressly asked for privacy’.
The case has attracted widespread interest since tragic Nicola’s disappearance and amateur sleuths have flooded social media with wild theories during the three week hunt for the mum.
They finished with a touching tribute to their beloved relative, adding: “Finally, Nikki, you are no longer a missing person, you have been found, we can let you rest now.
“We love you, always have and always will. We will take it from here.”
For their part, Lancashire Police said that the the death was “not the outcome any of us would have wanted.”
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lawson said: “Sadly we are now able to confirm that yesterday we recovered Nicola Bulley from the River Wyre.
“Nicola’s family have been informed and are of course devastated. Our thoughts are with them at this time, as well as with all her loved ones and the wider community.
“We recognise the huge impact that Nicola’s disappearance has had on her family and her friends, but also on the people of St Michael’s.
“We would like to thank all of those who have helped during what has been a hugely complex and high emotional investigation.
“Today’s development is not the outcome any of us would have wanted, but we hope that at least it can to begin to provide some answers for Nicola’s loved ones. They remain foremost in our thoughts.”
He added that the case was now being handled by His Majesty’s Coroner.
Nicola was found in the River Wyre on February 19[/caption]
Her family paid tribute to her in a statement via Lancashire Police[/caption]