how many weeks prior to the 24 weeks would you have to be working? I'm in a similar situation in that my contract finished then I became pregnant, but I'm on Job seekers benefit right now. Thought I'd have to get a permanent job to get maternity benefit but if a short term contract got this i'd look into that as well. Any idea if you need to work so many weeks before hand before claiming? Think I'm good on stamps otherwise .. on previous pregnancy I got zero, as I'd completed a contract but had been out of the country before that so didn't even bother applying as knew I didn't have the stamps..