Maternity Pay woes!

How_Dare_They

My wife has two jobs part time jobs. This first has said that she is not entitled to SMP as she hasn't earned enough through them. However, the second job has said that she is entitled but at a much lower rate of £85 instead of the £117 that could be paid.

No here's the rub! As she is able to get SMP from one job she is not entitled to any other help despite the total income from both jobs combined would have meant that she would have got the full £117. Also, had she worked just a little less in the job paying SMP she could have applied for SMA and got the full amount.

Is this fair? Is there anything she could apply for to top it up?

Chazpots

Hi there,

Yes it's right that her jobs are treated separately for SMP and cannot be added together. On the flip side, some people can claim SMP from more than one employment. I hear your frusatrations that for MA her earnings from both jobs could be added together!

Entitlement to other benefits would depend on your circumstances and income.

There is a Surestart Maternity Grant of £500...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

You would need to post some further info about your circumstances if you wanted advice about other benefits.

Hope this helps - Congratulations on the baby by the way.

Chaz

JimmyTheWig

Is your wife planning on returning to the job that she can get SMP from?

If not, she could leave the job before "the 15th week before the week her baby is due".

Then she wouldn't be entitled to SMP from this employer and could claim MA.

That's about the 24th week of pregnancy. Maybe it's already too late...


Edited to add: And you have to have worked continuously for this period. So she could give up work for a fortnight and then go back there again. But there are quite a few rules on this, so make sure you get it right.

gordonstights

Surely if she gives up one of her jobs now she will be entitled to Maternity Allowance?

"Maternity Allowance may be available to help you take time off to have your baby. You must not be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from any employer. You must also have been a registered self-employed person or have been employed in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due."

I might be way out here as I don't understand it fully.

stazi

gordonstights, there may be no point, if as, JTW says if she has already entered the 15th before the baby is due. The 15th week decides what can be claimed, either SMP or MA- but not both.