Redundancy and smp

jakesmummy_2

Evening, Im looking for a bit of advice if anyones got any,
had a search all over the web but cant see the answers Im looking for.

Basically this week I was told I had provisionally been selected for redundancy from my part time job and Im 25weeks pregnant. I dont believe it has been done fairly but that is another story to be honest, (4 pregnant women in company all happen to have been made redundant - but thats not the only reason we view it to be unfair)

Anyway my question is smp, I know the company is still obliged to pay me the smp but heres my problem I think they are going to pay it me in a lump sum, which wouldnt be a problem as such as I am good at making money last but the fact its all going to be in the same tax year as my earnings since april 2008. I have already earnt my allowance so to speak, think my tax code is 5k or thereabouts so if my smp gets paid before april I will pay 20% of this on tax, whereas if it gets spread into next year i techinally wont pay any tax on it next year as any I do pay I would be able to get back on a rebate.
Now does anyone know how I would work this out with regards to tax credits?? would I put it as my income from tax year april08-09? even though I am going to have to spread it out myself? Also as I am not going to be techincally employed by the company I will lose wtc(i think, my partner works but do we both have to work for wtc?) Also when would I be able to get another job or start looking and would I be entitled to jsa if I didnt start looking for a job until my mat pay technically would have ran out?
Any help would be appreciated I am so stressed with all this as partners wage literally only just covers rent and bill as hes on min wage, Iv never been out of work so this is all quite alien to me.
Thanks

scottn

hi JM.

not going to be totally helpful answer, but you'll need to weight up getting all you £ now and paying the appropriate Tax and NI on it - you won't be able to apply any allowances for next year to it OR work out whether you would be better getting to redundancy pay & any enhanced maternity from your employer and then claiming your weekly maternity pay directly from the government after you have left.

i've known employees who picked different options - having taken professionally advise on what's right for them.

good luck