Closed petition Add ESA for pregnancy to the qualifying criteria for maternity allowance.

Closed on 23 January 2021

On March 16th 2020 pregnant women were listed as ‘vulnerable’ and asked to remain home for 12 weeks by government. Pregnant women who have lost jobs have been unable to secure new ones or those in job transition stages have seen job offers ‘put on hold’ are therefore not working or seen as employed.

Lack of employment means they no longer qualify for the maternity allowance scheme where they previously would have. Leaving them without ANY maternity leave or pay. I therefore ask the government to include ‘ESA for pregnancy reasons’ in the qualifying criteria for the maternity allowance scheme for as long as the Government advises pregnant women to socially distance themselves.