Made redundant whilst pregnant, getting SMP but entitled to nothing else?!

smk77

Glamazon wrote: »

ASDA will have another baby event on soon so get yourself down there to stock up on cheap nappies althou I believe LIDL own are supposed to be rated quite well.

Same with Aldi nappies..supposedly! My son has worn Tesco nappies throughout his first 16 months apart from the occasional pampers. The times he has had big leaks he has worn pampers..So, my advice to katwoman28 is to try the non-branded nappies.

flea72

smk77 wrote: »

I'm confused here. Are you going to be worse off financially from now until the end of SMP than you would have been had you not lost your job? You are still getting SMP from 7th Sept and the 90% 6 weeks maternity other than the 10%? Surely the 2 weeks redundancy is more that?

the OP is on a low wage - from the wording, they must earn just above SMP levels anyway, so 2wks redunancy, isnt going to be that much of a life saver, to fall back on - ie circa SMP £123/w x 2 wouldnt help anyone financially. However the fact shes only worked for her employer for 42 wks, shes lucky she got any redundancy above PILON anyway

No she shouldnt be much worse off on mat leave, than when working - infact due to her and her partners low incomes, they should get alot of help, but only once baby arrives. The hardest times financially will between SMP kicking in and baby arriving, but as SMP is similar to her wages, it shouldnt be that hard to reign spending in, as they are used to that budget

Flea

Glamazon

right I think I know what you are getting at now.

Am I allowed to work past the 7th sept?

No, because your employer is paying you SMP.

When can I go back to work? (SMP covers until 7th June 2010)

7th June 2010 - if you go back to work before this you are not entitled to the full 33 weeks SMP. I will get mine paid monthly, if I decided to start a new job in April (SMP covers until 15th May) then I wouldn't get SMP when I returned to employment.
You are getting a lump sum so can't return to work - you may end up paying it back.

I'm sure you can't claim JSA and IS if you are getting Maternity Allowance but not 100% - this link might help.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/

Can I claim jobseekers and when?

IMO you can't search for a job until you have finished SMP so you shouldn't get Jobseekers cos you aren't applying for a job.

Can I claim income support and when?

Don't know

Am I allowed to put my SMP lump sum in a savings acc to standing order it to myself or will this count as savings and go against me?

Why would u want to do this? This money should be counted when any benefits are calculated.

Who can I speak to now?!

Get the numbers off the link above.

How did you plan on managing when you were on Mat Leave? Were you going to take the full 39 weeks on SMP or did you plan to return earlier?

If you were just going to take the 39 weeks SMP and then return to your existing job (had u not been made redunant) then you should be in the same situation financially just with no job to return to in June 2010 so u start looking in April/May next year.

If you only intended to take 12 weeks SMP and then return to work then you shouldn't have taken the lump sum for the 39 weeks.

katwoman28

Thanks for clarifying those points for me, it was pretty much as I'd thought but the jobcentre's lack of knowledge had seriously thrown me!
I have no choice as to who pays my mat pay or how, so lump sum for the full 39 weeks from my previous employer is my only option and as I'd thought, we've arrived at the same dates for ceasing and recommencing work.
I would have struggled exactly the same but would not have had the added loss of accumulated holidays for this and next year and would have had a job to go back to with overtime available. I would also have been paid weekly and would not have to manage it myself.
Because of my numerical dyslexia I cannot manage the large amount in my existing acc and had hoped I could standing order the correct amount to myself weekly from another normal or savings acc.
Many thanks for your help - next stop CAB.