Telling potential employers about pregnancy

starlite_2

It's okay..as you say, the baby is the most important thing right now. I at least have support from my o/h and savings which I will reluctantly chip into if neccesary. I guess at least I found out before I wasted my time on it that this is a very unsympathetic employer..imagine my blight if things were going normally and I announced my pregnancy to him in a few months to find myself well and truly dismissed (employment tribunal?....!) you have to laugh in these situations i suppose...

Spendless

ami- have you worked at all recently? I got maternity allowance even though I'd packed in my parttime job a few months earlier. You have to have worked 26 weeks out of the 66 before baby is due and earned at least £30 a week. Doesn't have to be consecutive weeks. Doesn't help you with a wage now but you might be entitled later on.

And yes you're right if the employer acted like that now, just thing how bad things could be ata later stage.

starlite_2

no..i was at uni so didn't work so i could focus on my exams..last job I was only at part time for a month in february, and before that it was october so i am not sure I would be entitled to maternity allowance, however i have spoken with a local benefit rights charity who say I can claim all sorts of things, from job seekers allowance, maternity benefit, free vitamins , milk etc
Only thing is I hope to get another job and work for a few months, as there is no chance of saving on benefits I am sure, and as I am fully capable to work it is only right to do so.
What if I am employed, leave to have the baby and am not entitled to maternity pay.Can i still get an government allowane?Or would at least my boyfriend get some tax relief..its such a minefield all this employment and benefit law, and different soucres seem to have conflicting advice.

Spendless

imported_ami wrote:

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What if I am employed, leave to have the baby and am not entitled to maternity pay.Can i still get an government allowane?Or would at least my boyfriend get some tax relief..its such a minefield all this employment and benefit law, and different soucres seem to have conflicting advice.

Not sure which is why I'd recommend talking to someone like Maternity Alliance. Do you live with your bf. If so it's unlikely you'd get JSA-income based and if you've been at uni it's doubtful that you'll have paid enough NI to get JSA contribution based.

Once baby is born you should apply for CB and tax credits.

starlite_2

Yes we have lived together for four years, the only thing is he left work to do an M.A and since has been doing a barely minimum wage intern placement with a publishoing company, which will obviously reap rewards in the future, but is barely enough for us to survive on at the moment anyway. i am hoping that the benefit system is means tested in some way. I don't know if you read other boards on this site but we also have some issues with our flat at the moment too so it is all very very worrying. I am trying to stay optimistic, and as all I wamt is fresh foods, water, and sleep right now i'm not spending too much anyway..he he

starlite_2

oh and to add. i got a letter from inland revenue last year saying i could voluntarily top up my contibutions as they were short, but i ignored it, being a poor student with other things on my mind. I didn't really understand the implications and feel like a fool now. Is there any way i can pay this shortfall now from my savings to ensure security if i need it later or have i missed the boat?

Spendless

ami- how old are you and bf? If 25 or over bf could apply for WTC to top up income, though I'm not sure if you'd have to be at least this age too.

NI not sure but someone on here might be able to answer you.

jellyhead

hi ami,
the 26 weeks you need to have worked to claim MA (maternity allowance) can be any 26 weeks out of the 66 before baby is born. that's called the 'test period'. there's a table in the leaflet you can download here (PDF so you need adobe acrobat reader) http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/498
i'm guessing that for you the test period started in july 2004. it can also include work that you get during the pregnancy. if you are entitled to MA it doesn't matter what your boyfriend earns, etc. but other benefits are means tested. the website http://www.entitledto.com/ will tell you what you'll be entitled to as regards tax credits, etc. sorry i can't help with info about benefits during your pregnancy, a lot depends on how much your bf earns, how old you both are, etc... you'll get child tax credit etc. after baby is born, so play around with figures in entitledto to see what you might get.

i hope everything goes well with your cervix! take things easy, hopefully somebody will be able to advise you on what you can claim and you'll be less worried about it. i'm sorry about the new job :-( *HUGS*

Savvy_Sue

It would be worth checking up the NI situation because it is possible that if you 'top up' you can get maternity benefits that you wouldn't be entitled to if you don't 'top up'. I'm years out of date, but I used to be self-employed and not earning enough to need to pay NI, but I topped up the years which enabled me to claim whatever maternity benefits there were then, and I was quids in! It could be that 'topping up' your student years makes you entitled, even if you haven't been working.

Citizens Advice Bureau, or phone the number on the letter you got from Inland Revenue? They are usually very helpful. Or Maternity Alliance.

Glad you have had some agency offers, worth pursuing agencies, a good one will take care of you and only put you forward for the hours you are available.

Jacster_2

imported_ami wrote:

oh well..things have just taken a turn for the worse..I had an ultrasound again on friday which was all good, but they noticed I have a slightly open cervix, which they say will most likely rectify itself but I have to go in for a check up once a week to be sure (and even if it persists they can do a simple procedue to sort it..so i am trying not to be concerned). I informed my new bossthat I would need to take a few hours off every week , telling him it was a sudden medical issue, as obviously hospitals are not sympathetic to woking hours and he said this would be fine. He has just called me back giving me a grilling about what it is for, which i refused to disclose as this is personal information, and he didn't seem happy, then less than 5 minutes after our conversation I got an email saying that he is sorry, but perhaps I am not right for the position after all, and good luck in the future etc etc (how cowardly of him!)..I don't want to call for some clarification on this as i am so angry right now and don't want to kick off...i know I must have no rights now but this is so upsetting, and as I had turned down a couple of agency offers since getting the job offer. I feel thoroughly cheated!

Ami - I totally understand that this may not be your priority right now, but from what you describe, I strongly suspect that your new employer 'sussed' you were pregnant. Go to CAB and ask them what happens if you decide to pursue it. Find out the information, and then decide what you want to do. Unfortunately, this happens to so many people...

There was a case several years ago where a woman went on maternity leave, and the guy got a temp in to cover for her. A few weeks later, she told him she was pregnant too - he lost it and sacked her (the temp). She took him to court (with support from CAB) and largely because of this case, you have so much legal protection in your situation right now.

You health and your baby is your top priority, so if this isn't for you, then leave it. But do be aware you are protected by the law.

Good luck, and I hope all goes well for you both.:grouphug: