MATERNITY PAYMENTS

37 - MATERNITY PAYMENTS

1. SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT

1.1 This document contains NASS case-working instructions for dealing with applications for "maternity payments".

2. SUMMARY

2.1 A single one-off payment of £300 may be provided to asylum seekers, supported under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (those asylum seekers supported by NASS), to help with the costs arising from the birth of a new baby. This is known as a maternity payment.

2.2 The maternity payment should only be paid if the criteria are met (see section 3 below) or if the case is exceptional.

2.3 Applications for the maternity payment must be submitted in writing and with the appropriate documentary evidence.

2.4 The payment must be made by way of "emergency" vouchers to the value of £300 per child or if not yet born, per child due i.e. if twins are due, £600 will be paid. Cash redeemable vouchers must not be issued.

2.5 A wide variety of retailers accept Sodexho vouchers ( i.e. NASS vouchers) including major supermarkets, children's wear retailers, pharmacists etc.

2.6 This bulletin comes into effect on 13 November 2000.

3. CRITERIA FOR NASS MATERNITY PAYMENT

3.1 A maternity payment can only be paid in the following circumstances:

The application for the maternity payment has been lodged in writing by the father or mother of the child; and

the application was received between one month before the estimated date of delivery and two weeks after the birth ; and

the birth is expected in two weeks (or less) or the child is less than two weeks old ( or was two weeks old or less on the day the maternity application was received at NASS) ;and,

the child was born to a NASS supported person (or if not yet born, the expectant mother is a NASS supported person); and,

the birth certificate has been submitted (or formal medical evidence of estimated date of delivery (EDD) if child not yet born).

The application has been lodged in writing by the father or mother of the child; and

the child was born outside the UK to a person who on application, qualifies for NASS support; and

the child is 3 months of age or less; and,

formal credible evidence of the age of the child has been submitted (see paragraph 4.4 below).

The child was born to a NASS supported person and the case is an exceptional one.

3.2 Other considerations

3.3 If the child's mother ( or expectant mother) or father is eligible for social security benefits, he/she is not eligible for a NASS maternity payment.

3.4 If a social security Maternity Payment has been made from the Social Fund in respect of the relevant child or children then a NASS maternity payment must not be made.

3.5 If a NASS maternity payment has already been made in respect of the relevant child or children then another maternity payment must never be made. This is particularly applicable to those who receive a NASS maternity payment, leave the United Kingdom and subsequently return.

3.6 If the child is born outside the UK, credible evidence of the age of the child should be submitted. Evidence that may be accepted are:

an original birth certificate ( photocopies not acceptable); or,

original passport ( the original passport will normally be held by the Immigration Service (port cases) or by the ICD (in-country cases) so in such circumstances NASS assessment case-workers will need to contact the relevant department to obtain a copy of the original passport); or,

formal medical evidence from a UK registered GP.

3.7 Transitional arrangements: this bulletin was issued on 13 November 2000, for those who applied for an extra payment for help with maternity costs before the introduction of this bulletin, a maternity payment may only be provided (subject to meeting the other criteria set out above) if:

the child is currently three months old or less; and,

the application for the maternity payment was lodged with NASS between one month before the date of birth (or EDD) and two weeks after.

4. WHO DEALS WITH APPLICATIONS FOR A MATERNITY PAYMENT?

4.1 Applications for maternity payments should be forwarded to case-workers undertaking the assessment role.

5. METHOD AND PROCEDURES:

The role of the Assessment case-worker

5.1 It is the role of the Assessment case-worker to make a recommendation to an Executive Officer on whether the person qualifies for a maternity payment. The criteria at section 3 above should be applied strictly.

5.2 The Assessment case-worker should attach a check list (see Annex A) to the right hand side of the paper file, clearly marking the reasons why the person meets the criteria for payment. The check list should be numbered and noted on the document list at the front of the file. The case-worker should minute the file with a short recommendation referring to the reasons given in the check list and the amount of the payment. (e.g. "I recommend that the applicant be provided with a maternity payment of £300, to help with the costs of one child, for the reasons given in my check list aside".)

5.3 If the application does not meet the criteria the case-worker may recommend that an exceptional payment is made. In such circumstances the case-worker should minute fully the reasons for the recommendation and pass the file to their EO.

5.4 The EO has the final decision on whether the person meets the criteria. The EO should minute the file accordingly, stating whether or not they agree with the recommendation, and pass it back to the case-worker. If the criteria are not met and an exceptional payment has been recommended by the case-worker, the EO should note the recommendation and pass the file to their HEO who will make the final decision.

5.5 If the application is from a NASS supported person and submitted 4 weeks before the estimated date of delivery (EDD) the application should be held and processed two weeks before the EDD (provided the criteria are still met at that point). Applications submitted more than 4 weeks before the EDD should be returned (with a pre-paid envelope) and the applicant asked to re-apply 4 weeks before the EDD.

The role of the Allocation case-worker

5.6 The Allocation case-worker should check that the decision to provide a maternity payment has been agreed at the appropriate level (see above) and that a check list is attached setting out the reasons for the decision before issuing the payment.

5.7 The maternity payment should be a one off payment of "emergency vouchers" (non-cash redeemable) to the value of £300. Case-workers must ensure that the payment is a one-off payment.

5.8 Payments should be £300 per qualifying child (or per child due).

ANNEX A

Maternity payment check list
Was the application lodged by the child's father or mother?	YES/NO
EITHER · Was the application lodged in writing and received between one month before the estimated date of delivery and two weeks after the birth ; · The birth is expected in two weeks (or less) or the child is less than two weeks old ( or would have been two weeks old or less on the day of receipt of the maternity application)	YES/NO
	YES/NO
· Was the child born to a NASS supported person or if the child is not yet born is the expectant mother a NASS supported person?	YES/NO
· Has the birth certificate been submitted or if the child is not yet born has evidence of the estimated date of delivery been submitted?	YES/NO

If the answer to all these questions is "yes" do you recommend a maternity payment?	YES/NO

OR
Was the child born outside the UK to a person who on application, qualifies for NASS support?	YES/NO
· Is the child 3 months of age or less?	YES/NO
· Has credible evidence of the age of the child been submitted?	YES/NO
If the answer to these questions is "yes" do you recommend a maternity payment?	YES/NO
Number of applicable children e.g. one
Level of maternity payment e.g. £300	£
Caseworker name
Payment confirmed (EO team leader)

ANNEX B

Decision letter granting a maternity payment

Dear

You have applied for a payment to help with the costs arising from the arrival of your [son/ daughter/ child etc] born/ due on [give birth date].

The Secretary of State has decided in your particular [insert "exceptional" where applicable] circumstances to provide you with a one-off additional single payment of vouchers to the value of [insert amount]. The vouchers, which are enclosed, have an expiry date upon them (it will generally be around 4 weeks from today). Please note that you must use the vouchers before they expire.

Yours sincerely

ANNEX C

Template letter to be used when an application does not meet the criteria.

(The reasons why an application does not meet the criteria are likely to be varied so this should be amended accordingly)

Thank you for your application for a payment to help with the costs arising from the arrival of your child.

A maternity payment can only be paid in the following circumstances:

The application for the maternity payment has been lodged in writing by the father or mother of the child; and

the application was received between one month before the estimated date of delivery and two weeks after the birth ; and

the birth is expected in two weeks (or less) or the child is less than two weeks old ( or was two weeks old or less on the day the maternity application was received) ;and,

the child was born to a NASS supported person( or if not yet born, the expectant mother is a NASS supported person); and,

the birth certificate has been submitted (or formal medical evidence of estimated date of delivery if child not yet born).

The application has been lodged in writing by the father or mother of the child; and

the child was born outside the UK to a person who on application, qualifies for NASS support; and

the child is 3 months of age or less; and,

formal credible evidence of the age of the child has been submitted (see paragraph 4.4 below).

The child was born to a NASS supported person and the case is an exceptional one.

The Secretary of State notes that [ give reasons for decision e.g. your child was born five months before you arrived in the UK and made your application] and that your application does not meet the criteria set out above. He is also satisfied that your circumstances are not of sufficient merit to be considered exceptional. Your application for an extra payment is accordingly refused.

Yours sincerely