Maternity Benefits

Hutch100uk

Does anyone know why Maternity Allowance is actually more than Statutory Maternity Pay? I don't understand this. Surely, even if you're employed, you're still having to live off maternity benefits like everyone else, so why should someone who isn't entitled to Stat Maternity pay be given more than me. I work with a girl who has been off sick for months and is now about to go on Maternity leave - she will get maternity allowance (as she hasn't been getting paid) and yet I get Stat Maternity pay which is less than she will get.

Louise1521

I thought that they were the same, standard rate £112.75 or 90% of your salary whichever is the lowest amount.

zoezoe_3

as far as I know they are the same except MA is not taxable.

"Why should you get more than me ?" What kind of attitude is that - assuming that you are somehow more deserving that someone who cant get SMP ?

I couldnt get SMP first time since I had just been made redundant but had been a high rate tax payer for at least 4 years previous.

Second time I was self employed and still paying my tax and NI.

Zoe

Miss_Money

I was off sick for months with my 1st baby due to spd... I still had to live!!! I was awarded stat mat pay as i had been employed by the company for 2 years.
I too thought they were the same rate.

Hutch100uk

I'm not trying to say that you're not entitled to benefits, I am merely saying that its £108.80 for those on Stat Maternity pay, yet its £112.75 for Maternity Allowance. I actually do consider myself more deserving than the few people who choose not to work. In particular the girl who has been off sick for 3 months when she has admitted there is nothing actually wrong with her apart from being pregnant and is merely work shy.

Hapless_2

I actually do consider myself more deserving than the few people who choose not to work

Do consider yourself more deserving than someone who could not find a full time job and has had to work 16 hrs at minimum wage?

zoezoe_3

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I'm not trying to say that you're not entitled to benefits, I am merely saying that its £108.80 for those on Stat Maternity pay, yet its £112.75 for Maternity Allowance. I actually do consider myself more deserving than the few people who choose not to work. In particular the girl who has been off sick for 3 months when she has admitted there is nothing actually wrong with her apart from being pregnant and is merely work shy.

1) you will only get the fill MA if you are self employed and uptodate with NI or cant get SMP and your earnings are high enough over the qulaifying period.

2) the cost to the tax payer for your SMP is slightly more since it is paid to the employer and they pay employers ni and tax...

Nickynoo1

the rate of £108 was payable 2006/07. The new rate of £112.75 is payable from April 2007, and is the same for MA and SMP.

Nickynoo1

tigtag02

Hutch100uk wrote: »

I'm not trying to say that you're not entitled to benefits, I am merely saying that its £108.80 for those on Stat Maternity pay, yet its £112.75 for Maternity Allowance. I actually do consider myself more deserving than the few people who choose not to work. In particular the girl who has been off sick for 3 months when she has admitted there is nothing actually wrong with her apart from being pregnant and is merely work shy.

:mad: :mad:

But what you are saying is wrong.

Nickynoo is correct with regard to the different figures.

I suggest in the future that you do your homework before you become all judgemental on a public SUPPORT forum!