can someone help me? will i get smp or mat allowance??

thepinkladez_2

Hi all,
we are planning to add an addition to our family towards the end of the year (hubby will have a pay rise that covers what i earn currently) As you can see from my sig we have some debt that we are clearing so i need to make sure we will be ok financially when we do fall pregnant.
I work an 8 hr contract on £5.50ish an hour (whatever minimum wage is!) so i earn roughly £160-£200 ish a month. i dont think i am entitled to smp as dont earn enough? If not would i be entitled to mat allowance? All the info i can locate seems to be confusing and its all different since 2004 when i had my 1st baby! also to add...
I dont particually enjoy the job i do at the moment mainly bad hours (only given a small contract but often work double that at busy periods being Next we are busy for all 4 sales), but at its retail so could be flexible after having new baby. I have considered looking for a job closer to home with about 16 to 20hrs a week that would stimulate my mind more, but i dont know whether thats a good idea when i would like to be pregnant at the end of year! i dont want to feel like i have duped my potentially new employer taking a job knowing i fully intend to get pregnant! also if i did would i have any rights to maternity pay etc as probably only be there 4months ish by the time i fall pregnant!?
sorry for babbling on! i have so much going around in my head!:D

Crossy

Hi

I don't know the answer but this website is very good www.tiger.gov.uk it is interactive and allows you to enter dates and other info and gives you back all sorts of info.

starbump

SMP and MA are paid at exactly the same rate. Assuming you pay NI (stamp) then you should definitely get something, even if you don't qualify for SMP. You may not get full rate MA if you cannot prove high enough earnings for a certain number of qualifying weeks. (I seem to remember it is any 13 or so weeks of your choosing in the 60+ weeks before due date. Choose the ones where you were paid the most - sounds like some weeks you do overtime?)

This should help: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/

foreversomeday

Go here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/Parentalleaveandpay/DG_10029290

Click on "Get personal guidance on maternity leave and pay"

And it will tell you what you can get, and how much it will be.

Good luck!

Spendless

It's some years since I claimed MA but IIRC you had to be working 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before baby's due date and earning at least £30 a week. The weeks didn't have to be consecutive. There was a further criteria for self-employed though I can't remember what that is/was.

ParadiseKidd

You cannot get SMP as you do not earn enough. You give your employer form MATB1 (provided by midwife/gp around 24 weeks) and they will give you a form stating that you do not earn enough for SMP.

You will need to include the form from your employer in an MA application.

You will get 90% of your average weekly wage, based on the highest 13 earning weeks during your qualifying period (which you work out using the application form).

Took ages to get my MA through and I am now owed back-pay, so get your application sorted at least two months before you need to. You can get the application form from the Jobcentre.

Hope this helps!