SMP or Maternity allowance?

redjay_2

I have found out that I am pregnant and although it is early days I want to put my mind at rest about finances when the baby is due.

I currently work over 16 hours a week and will be working as late into the pregnancy as possible.
As I am a preschool teacher my earnings vary due to school holidays, they are usually around the £90 - £100 a week mark. It is possible that I will not be able to qualify for SMP as I may not make the £95 a week for egilibilty at the time leading up to my maternity leave. I do sometimes pay NI contributions but not often as my earnings are low. I have been looking at the direct gov website but and finding it a bit hard to understand whether or not I will be entitled to Maternity allowance if I am not entitled to SMP.
My partner is self employed, not sure if this is relevent or not..
Also my other question is this, Do employers get reimbursed for the SMP they have to pay, I ask this as I work for a registered charity which is non profit making and would feel really bad if they had to pay me SMP and not get it back.


Hope you are still with me and thanks in advance!

redjay_2

Shameless bump - geddit?!:rotfl:

dbuk44

Hi,

Answering as someone who just figured this out for their wife. Hopefully an expert will be along shortly.

Here's a step by step to follow,

1. Your need to know your due date. Calculate your Qualifying Week - this is 15 weeks before the week the baby is due.

2. Have you been continuously employed by your employer for the 26 weeks before your Qualifying Week? If yes, go to step 4. If no, you don't qualify for SMP, so go to step 3.

3. Have you been employed in at least 26 weeks out of the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due. If yes, go to step 5. If no, you don't qualify for MA.

4. Calculate your average your gross earnings (before tax and NI) over a period of at least eight weeks up to and including the last payday before the end of your qualifying week (15th week before the week your baby is due). You might need to forecast! Example: If your baby is due in the 2nd week of Oct, then this would be your qualifying week. You could average your June and May salary. If its greater than £95 a week you qualify for SMP. If its less than £95 go back to step 3.

5. Forecast your weekly earnings for the 66 week period running into the week before the week your baby is due. If its greater than £30 a week you qualify for MA. If its less than £30 you do not.

NB: Employers do get reimbursed for a portion of the SMP but I've no idea how much. They can calculate it here after getting the intial forecast: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/smp.htm

Tweetinat

Many congrats redjay!

Yes, your employers is able to claim the full amount of your SMP from the government, so you don't need to worry about them being 'out of pocket'.

Have a healthy and happy 40weeks!

redjay_2

Thank you for that, I have been with my employer for almost 9 years so no problem there.

Thanks for your replies great help!