Maternity Allowance - When to submit the claim

The claim form may be submitted to the National Insurance Institute closest to the date on which the expectant mother stopped working, but no earlier then 9 weeks before the due date of the birth. A woman who submits the form before the birth should ask her doctor to authorize the due date of the birth on the form (and in any case, no later than 12 months from the first date of entitlement to the maternity allowance).