§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many maternity allowance claims were(a) processed and (b) awarded in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [149009]
(2)what reasons are given for refusing maternity allowance claims; [149010]
(3)how many women were eligible for maternity allowance in each year since 1997.[149011]
§ Maria EagleThe available information is in the table.
In order to receive maternity allowance (MA), a woman must have been employed and/or self-employed in at least 26 weeks in the 66 week period ending with the week before her expected week of childbirth (the test period), and earn on average at least £30 a week averaged over any 13 weeks in that test period.
408WIn most cases where a claim to MA does not result in an award, it is because the qualifying conditions have not been met. In a very small number of cases, a claim will not result in an award because it was outside the time limits; the earliest a woman may claim MA is 14 weeks before here expected week of childbirth, and a claim must be made within three months of the date her MA is due to start.
Information on the number of claims that were processed and the number of women who were eligible for MA is not available.
Maternity allowance claims awarded and disallowed in the periods shown Period Awarded Disallowed 1 March 1997–31 August 1997 19,100 — 1 September 1997–31 August 1998 40,100 — 1 September 1998–31 August 1999 39,400 — 1 September 1999–31 August 2000 38,900 700 1 September 2000–31 August 2001 50,600 3,400 1 September 2001–31 August 2002 50,800 2,700 1 September 2002–31 August 2003 51,800 2,700 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. These figures have been updated to include late notification commencements.
3. Figures for the latest year are subject to changes due to late notifications.
4. Data for disallowed claims prior to August 2000 is not available.
Source:
DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. samples.