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data-track-label="/maternity-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Report a change of circumstances"}" href="/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances">Report a change of circumstances</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="part-title"> Overview </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby.</p> <p>You could get it if you:</p> <ul> <li>are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)</li> <li>are self-employed</li> <li>have recently stopped working</li> <li>take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner</li> </ul> <p>You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks.</p> <p>You can <a href="/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim">claim Maternity Allowance</a> as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start up to 11 weeks before your baby is due.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>This guide is also available in <a href="/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/lwfans-mamolaeth">Welsh (Cymraeg)</a>, <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPKvEpJpMg&list=PLC0aQWFFHARwkHsLhAD_iRsB_UHeruv-m">British Sign Language (BSL)</a> and <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/easy-read-maternity-allowance">easy read format</a>.</p> </div> <div role="note" aria-label="Warning" class="application-notice help-notice"> <p>Any money you get can affect <a href="/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get">your other benefits</a>.</p> </div> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination"> <div class="govuk-pagination__next"> <a 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"Maternity Allowance", "datePublished": "2012-01-18T10:06:36.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2015-01-12T15:05:31.000+00:00", "text": "Maternity Allowance is paid to pregnant women who do not get Statutory Maternity Pay - rate, eligibility, apply, form MA1", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/financial-help-when-having-a-baby" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-parenting/working-time-off-when-having-a-baby" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/welfare/families" }, { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/employment/time-off" } ], "headLine": "Maternity Allowance", "description": "Maternity Allowance is paid to pregnant women who do not get Statutory Maternity Pay - rate, eligibility, apply, form MA1", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eMaternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou could get it if you:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eare employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eare self-employed\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ehave recently stopped working\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003etake part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can \u003ca href=\"/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim\"\u003eclaim Maternity Allowance\u003c/a\u003e as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start up to 11 weeks before your baby is due.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis guide is also available in \u003ca href=\"/lwfans-mamolaeth\"\u003eWelsh (Cymraeg)\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPKvEpJpMg\u0026amp;list=PLC0aQWFFHARwkHsLhAD_iRsB_UHeruv-m\"\u003eBritish Sign Language (BSL)\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/easy-read-maternity-allowance\"\u003eeasy read format\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny money you get can affect \u003ca href=\"/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get\"\u003eyour other benefits\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Benefits", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Benefits and financial support for families", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/families" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "Maternity Allowance", "description": "Maternity Allowance is paid to pregnant women who do not get Statutory Maternity Pay - rate, eligibility, apply, form MA1", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Overview", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance", "text": "<p>Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby.</p>\n\n<p>You could get it if you:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)</li>\n <li>are self-employed</li>\n <li>have recently stopped working</li>\n <li>take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks.</p>\n\n<p>You can <a href=\"/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim\">claim Maternity Allowance</a> as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start up to 11 weeks before your baby is due.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>This guide is also available in <a href=\"/lwfans-mamolaeth\">Welsh (Cymraeg)</a>, <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPKvEpJpMg&list=PLC0aQWFFHARwkHsLhAD_iRsB_UHeruv-m\">British Sign Language (BSL)</a> and <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/easy-read-maternity-allowance\">easy read format</a>.</p>\n</div>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\">\n<p>Any money you get can affect <a href=\"/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get\">your other benefits</a>.</p>\n</div>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Eligibility", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility", "text": "<p>You can get Maternity Allowance for 39 weeks if in the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you’ve been:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>employed or registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks</li>\n <li>earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You may still qualify if you’ve recently stopped working. It does not matter if you had different jobs or periods of unemployment.</p>\n\n<p>If you usually earn £30 or more a week and only earned less in some weeks because you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, you may still be eligible. You must give details in your claim form.</p>\n\n<p>You can use the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents\">maternity entitlement calculator</a> to check your eligibility.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-you-do-unpaid-work-for-your-spouse-or-civil-partners-business\">If you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business</h2>\n\n<p>You might get Maternity Allowance for up to 14 weeks if, for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due, you:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>have taken part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or civil partner</li>\n <li>have not been employed or self-employed</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>In the same 26 weeks, your spouse or civil partner must:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>be registered as self-employed with HMRC</li>\n <li>pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-you-lose-the-baby\">If you lose the baby</h2>\n\n<p>You may still qualify if the baby is either:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>stillborn from the start of the 24th week of pregnancy</li>\n <li>born alive at any point during the pregnancy</li>\n</ul>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What you'll get", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get", "text": "<p>Use the <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents\">maternity entitlement calculator</a> to work out how much you could get.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-youre-employed-or-have-recently-stopped-working\">If you’re employed or have recently stopped working</h2>\n\n<p>You’ll get £156.66 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks if you’re employed or have recently stopped working.</p>\n\n<p>You can get Maternity Allowance for up to 39 weeks. This means if you take the full 52 weeks Statutory Maternity Leave, your final 13 weeks will be unpaid.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-youre-self-employed\">If you’re self-employed</h2>\n\n<p>You can get between £27 to £156.66 a week for 39 weeks if you’re self-employed.</p>\n\n<p>How much you get depends on how many Class 2 National Insurance contributions you’ve made in the 66 weeks before your baby is due.</p>\n\n<p>To get £156.66 per week you must have:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>been registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due</li>\n <li>paid Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 13 of the 66 weeks before the baby is due</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>If you’ve paid less than 13 weeks of Class 2 National Insurance contributions, your Maternity Allowance will be calculated based on how many weeks of contributions you’ve made.</p>\n\n<p>If you’ve not paid any Class 2 National Insurance contributions, you’ll be entitled to £27 per week Maternity Allowance.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"increase-your-maternity-allowance\">Increase your Maternity Allowance</h3>\n\n<p>You can increase your Maternity Allowance by paying more Class 2 National Insurance contributions.</p>\n\n<p>After you’ve applied for Maternity Allowance, HMRC will tell you how many additional Class 2 National Insurance contributions you need to pay.</p>\n\n<p>If you pay your additional Class 2 National Insurance contributions, you’ll get £156.66 per week for 39 weeks.</p>\n\n<p>Class 2 National Insurance contributions are £3.15 per week.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-you-do-unpaid-work-for-your-spouse-or-civil-partners-business\">If you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business</h2>\n\n<p>You can get £27 a week for up to 14 weeks if you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-youre-paid\">How you’re paid</h2>\n\n<p>Maternity Allowance is paid every 2 or 4 weeks.</p>\n\n<p>All benefits, pensions and allowances are usually <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/how-to-have-your-benefits-paid\">paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account</a>.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"impact-on-other-benefits\">Impact on other benefits</h2>\n\n<p>Maternity Allowance will not affect your tax credits but it will affect how much you get for:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>Council Tax Reduction</li>\n <li>Housing Benefit</li>\n <li>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)</li>\n <li>Income Support</li>\n <li>Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) - this will stop if you get Maternity Allowance</li>\n <li>bereavement benefits</li>\n <li>Carer’s Allowance</li>\n <li>Universal Credit</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-benefit-cap\">The benefit cap</h3>\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/benefit-cap\">benefit cap</a> limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age\">State Pension age</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Some individual benefits are not affected, but it may affect the total amount of benefit you get.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-youve-been-paid-too-much\">If you’ve been paid too much</h2>\n\n<p>You may have to repay the money if you:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>did not report a change straight away</li>\n <li>gave wrong information</li>\n <li>were overpaid by mistake</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Find out how to <a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/benefit-overpayments\">repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment</a>.</p>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How to claim", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim", "text": "<p>You can claim Maternity Allowance once you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks. Payments can start 11 weeks before your baby is due.</p>\n\n<p>In order to claim, you’ll need a <a href=\"/government/publications/maternity-allowance-claim-form\">Maternity Allowance (MA1) claim form</a>. You can either:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>print it and fill it in</li>\n <li>fill it in online and print it</li>\n <li>\n<a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/ask-for-a-maternity-allowance-claim-form/\">order a form</a> if you cannot print it</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>The form has notes to help you fill it in.</p>\n\n<p>You’ll need to give information about your employment in the 66 weeks before your baby is due (called the ‘Test Period’). You can use the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/check-your-maternity-allowance-dates/date-baby-due/\">Test period calculator</a> to work out these dates.</p>\n\n<p>Send your claim to the address on the form.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>Call <a href=\"/contact-jobcentre-plus\">Jobcentre Plus</a> to ask for alternative formats of the form, such as braille, large print or audio CD.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-to-send-with-your-claim-form\">What to send with your claim form</h2>\n\n<p>You will need to include other documents when you send in your claim form.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"proof-of-income\">Proof of income</h3>\n\n<p>You need to provide proof of your income, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>original payslips</li>\n <li>a Certificate of Small Earnings Exemption (if applicable for the 2014 to 2015 tax year)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>If your proof of income includes times you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, mention this in the ‘additional information’ section of your form. Include the dates that you were on the scheme and how much (as a percentage) of your normal pay you were actually paid.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"proof-of-a-due-date-and-birth\">Proof of a due date and birth</h3>\n\n<p>You need to provide proof of your baby’s due date, even if the baby has already been born. This could be:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>a letter from your doctor or midwife on headed paper</li>\n <li>your MATB1 certificate</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>If your baby has already been born, you also need to provide proof of that. This could be:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>a birth certificate</li>\n <li>a letter from your doctor or midwife on headed paper - this can be the same letter as the one proving the due date</li>\n <li>your MATB1 certificate, if the section about the actual date of birth has been filled in by a doctor or midwife</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3 id=\"additional-information\">Additional information</h3>\n\n<p>You may also need to provide:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>your SMP1 form, if you were refused Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) by your employer</li>\n <li>more information about your partner’s self-employed business and the unpaid work you do for them, if you’re applying for Maternity Allowance for 14 weeks</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-youll-hear-about-your-claim\">When you’ll hear about your claim</h2>\n\n<p>You should get a decision on your claim within 20 working days.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re eligible, a form will be sent to you confirming your entitlement and asking you to confirm your last day of employment before leave.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"if-you-disagree-with-a-decision\">If you disagree with a decision</h2>\n<p>You can <a href=\"/mandatory-reconsideration\">challenge a decision</a> about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.</p>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Report a change of circumstances", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230315001229/https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/report-a-change-of-circumstances", "text": "<p>You need to report changes in your circumstances that happen while you’re receiving Maternity Allowance, for example if you go back to work.</p>\n\n<p>Your Maternity Allowance could be stopped or reduced if you do not report a change straight away. If you’re paid too much you might have to pay some of the money back. You might also have to pay a £50 fine.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\">\n<p>If you deliberately do not report changes, you’re committing <a href=\"/benefit-fraud\">benefit fraud</a>.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"changes-you-need-to-report\">Changes you need to report</h2>\n\n<p>Report a change of circumstances if you:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>return to work (including ‘keeping in touch days’)</li>\n <li>start or stop work</li>\n <li>start a new job</li>\n <li>become entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from your employer</li>\n <li>return to unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business</li>\n <li>change your address</li>\n <li>change your name</li>\n <li>change your bank details</li>\n <li>move abroad</li>\n <li>go to prison or are held in police custody</li>\n <li>no longer wish to claim Maternity Allowance</li>\n</ul>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>If you decide not to return to work after your Maternity Allowance has ended, you do not need to report this. Use a <a href=\"/benefits-calculators\">benefits calculator</a> to check if you can get other financial support.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h3 id=\"reporting-keeping-in-touch-days\">Reporting ‘keeping in touch days’</h3>\n\n<p>You need to report any days you work for your employer while receiving Maternity Allowance. These are known as ‘keeping in touch days’.</p>\n\n<p>You can take up to 10 keeping in touch days without affecting the amount of Maternity Allowance you receive.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-report-changes\">How to report changes</h2>\n\n<p>You can report changes by telephone or by post.</p>\n\n<p>If you’re not sure whether you need to report a change, you can call for advice.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"report-changes-by-phone\">Report changes by phone</h3>\n\n<p>You need your National Insurance number when you call.</p>\n\n<div class=\"contact\">\n<p>Maternity Allowance helpline<br>\nTelephone: 0800 169 0283<br>\nTextphone: 0800 169 0286<br>\n<a href=\"https://www.relayuk.bt.com/\">Relay UK</a> (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0283<br>\nBritish Sign Language (BSL) <a href=\"https://connect.interpreterslive.co.uk/vrs?ilc=DWP\">video relay service</a> if you’re on a computer - find out how to <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oELNMfAvDxw\">use the service on mobile or tablet</a><br>\nMonday to Friday, 8am to 5pm<br>\nWelsh language: 0800 169 0296<br>\nMonday to Friday, 8am to 6pm<br>\n<a href=\"https://www.gov.uk/call-charges\">Find out about call charges</a></p>\n</div>\n\n<h3 id=\"report-changes-by-post\">Report changes by post</h3>\n\n<p>You need to include your National Insurance number on any letters.</p>\n\n<p>Send details of your changes to:</p>\n\n<div class=\"address\"><div class=\"adr org fn\"><p>\n\nWrexham Maternity Allowance \n<br>Mail Handling Site A \n<br>Wolverhampton \n<br>WV98 1SU\n<br>\n</p></div></div>\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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