Maternity Pay with 2 employers

jstobbs

Hi, please could anyone advise me.

I have two employers, workin part-time for each. I am due to take maternity leave mid November.

I was originally told that only one employer had to apply for the statatory mat pay as it would automatically work out
90% of my gross earnings for the first 6 weeks and then reduce to the standard £128/week after that.

I was a little concerned that this wasn't going to happen so did some more delving and rang National Insurance Contributions Helpline and they have told me that both employers need to apply for statatory mat pay to see if I am eligible. I have just done some calculations and because one of my jobs works out less than the £102/week I don't think I'm going to qualify. If I had been told the correct information originaly I could've upped my hours to make sure that I met all the criteria required.

Now from what I can read I am only going to qualify for 90% of one wage (approx. £112/wk) for the first six weeks instead of 90% of my combined wages (approx. £180/wk) for the six weeks. To me, nearly £70 is a lot of money each week. And if I qualify for Statatory mat pay from one employer then I won't qualify for maternity pay from the other.

I just don't know how we're going to manage. I work 2 jobs at the moment so that we can keep a roof over our heads and afford food each week, not for luxuries etc.

I would really like to have taken time off to enjoy this baby as it will probably be our last but I can see me having to return to my evening job after just a few months.

I welcome any comments or advice.

lizzywig

I can't really offer any advice, all I can say is that your employers should be able to advise you. I'm about to go on maternity leave and as the main income earner it means we'll struggle, I'm full time and don't have a second job so I'm only entitled to the same as everyone else. I didn't even know you could get two amount of maternity pay if you had a second job. Don't think I'm having a go at you because I'm really not but how does that seem right? Say if you work 20 hours in one job and 15 in the other (granted I don't know how many you work but it's an example) and then I work 35....we work the same amount of hours but you get double maternity pay. Perhaps I'm missing a trick here?

We've been saving our backsides off to be able to afford for me to be able to stay off work, it's been flipping hard going without for 2 years but it'll be worth it hey!

If you're not entitled to the second lot of maternity pay then would you perhaps get more in child tax credits. Say if for example your OH is on a low salary then maybe you're entitled to more? Sorry not to be of much help I don't know much about this area!

chrisbur

Sorry I am afraid I may be adding to the bad news. If the 90% average that you get for the first six weeks is lower than the standard rate 128.73 that is usually paid after the first six weeks then that average rate is paid instead of the standard rate. So your maternity pay will be the 90% average all the time.

jstobbs

Ouch! That did sound like a dig!

I can completely understand why though as I didn't make myself that clear earlier.

I don't think I should be entitled to anymore SMP than anyone else. I'm fully aware after the first 6 weeks it should go down to the standard £128/week that most employees are entitled to for 33 weeks. However, it is the first 6 weeks at 90% where it makes a huge difference (about £400 in my case). If all my hours combined were with one employer and therefore one monthly salary I would get 90% of that salary but because they are split between two employers I think I'm going to miss out. The funny thing is (if I've read all the gov website info correctly) that if I'd realised sooner and upped my hours slightly in my lesser paying job in time, I probably would qualify for SMP from both employers! That doesn't seem fair as you say, why should anyone get 2 lots? (Maybe I've read the info wrong though?)

I know how expensive having a baby is and not because of the cost they bring with material necessities but because most families have to give up a salary for a period of time. This is why when I returned to work after having my first child I had to get 2 jobs so I wasn't paying so much out towards childcare and could work when my husband was at home.

You have my respect for being able to save for two years to make it a little easier whilst you are off work. I hope your pregnancy is going well and you've not got long before you get a break.