Maternity pay

Littlemisssmelly

Hi all, hope I'm posting in the right place -its the 1st time I've posted here

I have a question about maternity pay. I know it is calculated in the 2months prior to 15 weeks before birth. During this time, I have a contract that has me working part time. However, that comes to an end 3months before the birth where I have managed to get another contract with the same employer, but this time working full time hours. In other words, I'll have been working full time for 3months when I go on maternity leave, but will my SMP be for the part time hours, even though I am on a new contract?

Thanks for your help,

Lms

amus

SMP is worked out on a 'snapshot' of your earnings for 8 weeks before the 15th week the baby is due (so between pregnancy weeks 17-25). This will be averaged out and will then form the basis of the SMP you are entitled to.

Littlemisssmelly

So, even though my contract has changed to full time, I will only be entitled to part time maternity pay?

Thanks for replying

amus

Littlemisssmelly wrote: »

So, even though my contract has changed to full time, I will only be entitled to part time maternity pay?

Thanks for replying

Yes, if you are only working part time during that snapshot period.

HTH.

Oneday77

There is ruling that if you've received a pay rise even after the 'snapshot' you get the pay rise included in the smp calculation. A change of hours I suspect is excluded but if it's the same job and you get more per hour you might.
Someone else maybe able to elaborate or as I'm wrong.

chrisbur

Oneday77 wrote: »

There is ruling that if you've received a pay rise even after the 'snapshot' you get the pay rise included in the smp calculation. A change of hours I suspect is excluded but if it's the same job and you get more per hour you might.
Someone else maybe able to elaborate or as I'm wrong.

I believe that you are refering to the rule change that followed the "Alabaster case" details of which are on the right hand side of page 26 of the following guide
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e15.pdf

I think that this could apply in this case, certainly worth a try.