New job and maternity leave

mich13x

I recently started a new job and at the end of next week will be my fourth month there.

I have just found out i am expecting and am confused where i stand with this, can i keep my job and still have maternity leave with my baby? I am only about 5 weeks. I really do not want to lose my job as i have two toddlers in nursery already and i couldnt afford it without my pay.

Please help!

MrsManda

Firstly, does your employer have an occupational maternity pay scheme and if they do, are you eligible?

If they don't have an occupational maternity pay scheme or you are not eligible then you may be able to claim Statutory Maternity Pay. This depends on how much you earn a week, when you started your job and when the baby is due.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_175884

If you cannot get SMP you may be able to receive Maternity Allowance
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

You can get 'personalised' information of what you are entitled to by filling out the questionnaire on the direct.gov website here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/maternity.dsb

I don't know about keeping/losing your job though I'm sure you'll get the answer to that soon

Jarndyce

The OP asked about maternity leave, and the answer is yes, you can take maternity leave even though you have only been there a few months. You then have the right to return to your job after your leave.

clairec79

As you started work before you conceived providing you earn enough then you'll be entitled to SMP, if not then MA

an9i77

Yes this happened to me I started working somewhere and found out I was expecting six weeks later, I qualified for stat maternity pay by one week (you need to be employed for 26 weeks at your 15th week before due date) and I'm off for a year but going back in Jan, they recruited to my job on a temp basis (but now are keeping the temp on permanently in any case, in addition to my role).

loubeedoo

Hi Op, as previous post by Jarndyce, yes you are entitled to Mat leave, and the right of retrun to your job after your mat leave.

But, you have not been employed long enough to qualify for Statutory Mat Pay, you can ask your employer for SMP1 and when your receive your MatB1 from your midwife send this and the SMP1 to the DWP to apply for Maternity Allowance.

MrsManda has posted the links.

Probably not what you wanted to hear finance wise, (but contact WFTC when baby born), and congrats on 'bump'.

HTH

t0rt0ise

I looked it up and thought she probably had been in employment long enough for SMP so if I were you OP I'd check that out more thoroughly.

To satisfy the continuous employment rule you must:

• have been employed by your employer for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week

The qualifying week is:

• the 15th week before the week in which the baby is due

This period must include:

• at least one day's employment in the qualifying week

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_175884

pinky2681

you'll be cutting it fine, work out roughly how many weeks pregnant you'll be when you've been with your employer for 26 weeks. If its 15 or less then you should be ok, as long as your dating scan doesnt bump you up a extra week or 2.

If your not entitled to smp - then you can get ma via the job centre. Get a form and get your employer to fil it in. You'll get paid for 9 months still (as long as you have earnt enough previously) but you'll only get the standard rate (not sure but i think its around £125 a week) HTH

chrisbur

From what was said in the first post sounds to me that you will proberbly qualify for SMP on length of service condition, but either way there is nothing you can do about it. When you get your MatB1 cert. give it to your employer and they will check the exact dates and either confirm that you will get SMP or they will give you a form advising you that you do not qualify and how to claim MA, and return your MatB1.

t0rt0ise

pinky2681 wrote: »

you'll be cutting it fine, work out roughly how many weeks pregnant you'll be when you've been with your employer for 26 weeks. If its 15 or less then you should be ok, as long as your dating scan doesnt bump you up a extra week or 2.

15 weeks before the baby is due would make her 25 weeks pregnant, she's already been working there 4 months so easily within the time period.

an9i77

t0rt0ise wrote: »

15 weeks before the baby is due would make her 25 weeks pregnant, she's already been working there 4 months so easily within the time period.

I would agree, I got pregnant three weeks after starting new job (as in, that's when my 40 weeks gestation was dated from) and qualified for SMP by one week, so OP should be within the dates no problem.