Advice Needed re/ SMP and MA

lang8er

Hi all,

I am really upset with work at the moment. I have been working there for a day and a half for almost 2 yrs and presumed I would be receiving SMP from them. I have started mat leave this week (32 weeks) and it is pay day - looked at my bank statement and only half of my salary has gone in. I contacted them and apparently was sent a letter 2 weeks ago – I have been on holiday leave for 3 weeks (I moved 2/3 months ago and completed a change of addresss form at the time and then had to remind them again approx 1 month later when my payslip got sent to my old address without an enevelope!!). The letter they sent explained that I did not qualify for SMP as I hadn't paid enough National Insurance or something as I only work minimal hours. This has all come as a big shock and I have been advised to go to the benefit office and claim for maternity allowance. I have no car at the moment and a 2 1/2 yr old to drag with me and lots of Braxton Hicks to match!!. Anyway rant over - anyone got any advice!! (or sympathy lol!!)

CIS

They're right about the SMP, you need to earn over £82 per week. Maternity Allowance is the only benefit you can claim.

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Dev_008115.xml.html

Why not download the form and post.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/ma1.pdf

If you already receive Tax Credits, you will be able to claim extra as the rules allow you to still declare your hours and ignore the MA as income.

carpool72

Here's a virtual cuppa & lots of sympathy from another toddler's mum with a big bump (I finish work on Friday & CAN'T WAIT ). How annoying that your employer couldn't tell you about your entitlement when you told them you were pregnant - mine are just the same, although very nice they didn't let me know anything unless I asked a direct question. It's probably worth ringing the tax credit people now to report a change of circumstances, then again when the baby comes as you ought to get some extra for now.xx

lang8er

Thank you so much!!
It is just an extra thing to worry about and another thing to get my head around arghrghrghrgrh!!
Thanks for the good advice though - I wouldn't have thought of contacting the tax credit people!

mrwibble

Just call re Maternity Allowance and they will send you all the forms - my wife did it as she had been contracting and no need to travel around.

Counting_Pennies_2

I do completely sympathise with you, although I do have to say it is an individual's responsibility to check out their maternity pay situation.

If you worked for a good employer they should have a facility to sit down and go through maternity benefits etc. All employers have maternity policies and it should be up to the individual to read them. There is also a mass of information on the web to do research on.

Your employer did write to you, although their internal communications systems sound completely shot, in that it didn't reach you.

I am sure you can sort out the majority of the allowance over the phone.

Good luck with the birth of your baby.

ALI1973

Just a quick note, Maternity Allowance is really easy to claim, you can download a form, fill it in and then send it off along with your MATB1 and pay slips. You can also choose the 13 weeks payslips you send within a specified period to ensure you get the max you can.

Good luck with your baby, Im 34 weeks, so I do understand that this is the last thing you want.

HTH Love Ali

lang8er

Thank you all x
I am filling the forms in this aftie - hurrah!!