Maternity Allowance...am i entitled to it?

suew123_2

Hi,

Just wondering if you could help.

I am currently 25 weeks pregnant, and have worked for my employer for 2 years which should mean i am entitled to SMP. However since finding out i am pregnant it has been one problem after the other. The company i work for is a one man band and he really has no idea how to run a company. As soon as he found out i was pregnant he tried to change my contract so that it said i was working less hours although still doing full time, tried to stop me taking any of my holidays, and even said that as he was a small company he couldnt afford to pay SMP. Each instance i have rang ACAS and explained to him what i am entitled to, he however said he didnt care what ACAS said.

Because of the stress this is causing me i plan to take my maternity leave at 29 weeks, as i have no intention in returning to work, so dont need to worry about going back once little one is here. However i am worried that once on maternity leave my boss will try his best not to pay me SMP. My wages are paid with a cheque which is left in the office for me, for the last 4 months this has bounced. Because of this I can imagine he will conviently ''forget'' to leave the cheque in the office or post it to me while im on maternity or that when i eventually do receieve it, it bounces on me. The last thing I want to worry about is trying to get money im entitled to when i have a baby to look after.

Because of this I was wondering if i was to walk out of my job now, would i be entitled to Maternity allowance as i would then know that every month the money is going into my bank account and i dont need to worry about it! It would relieve so much worry for me, as this is now keeping me up at night as my maternity leave draws nearer, and its no good for me or baby!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

karenx

You will get MA. What will you do for money between now and then though?
If you are still employed when going on maternity leave and applying for MA you will need to give your boss a form from the MA forms which asks why they dont pay SMP.
Does he give you payslips? You will also need these when applying for MA.
Are you going to be a SAHM? Do you have a partner?

suew123_2

It would only be a month between leaving work and receiving MA if i was entitled to it so we would be able to manage. I have also got payslips from my job.

I've got a partner and am planning on becoming a SAHM once baby is here.

Thank you for your help, I was worried as I have read different websites saying different things. Some say i would get MA others are saying that I wont as once i've worked in the 15th before baby is due employer has to pay SMP even if i leave.

karenx

Remember you wont recieve any extra benefits for not working once your maternity pay ends

tigtag02

suew123 wrote: »

It would only be a month between leaving work and receiving MA if i was entitled to it so we would be able to manage. I have also got payslips from my job.

I've got a partner and am planning on becoming a SAHM once baby is here.

Thank you for your help, I was worried as I have read different websites saying different things. Some say i would get MA others are saying that I wont as once i've worked in the 15th before baby is due employer has to pay SMP even if i leave.

I would speak to the MA helpline as I am pretty sure what I have highlighted above will be the case.