Am I entitled to Maternity Allowance?

xxxpinkladyxxx

I've worked at my current job for the past 10 years, but have been on maternity leave for the past year. In this time, I had the first 13 weeks at full pay, second 13 weeks at half pay and the third 13 weeks on SMP. I started maternity leave on 4 July 2012. I have now just taken voluntary redundancy and will be officially unemployed at the end of the month when I will be 23 weeks pregnant, so I just miss out on being entitled to SMP as you need to be in employment in the 25/26th week of pregnancy. So I know that I can claim Maternity Allowance instead but will I still be entitled as it say to qualify, I need to have worked for at least 26 weeks of the 66 weeks before my due date (66 weeks before my due date would be 15 July 2012). So to sum up:

Been on maternity leave from 4 July 2012

Receiving 13 weeks full pay from this date, then half pay the following 13 weeks and SMP after that (on my payslip, it shows as SMP and Enhanced Maternity Pay)

I paid tax on those first 26 weeks' of maternity pay so I'm assuming I still qualify. It's just that, although I was employed, I wasn't actually working and on my payslips for the months that I did get paid, it shows as Enhanced Maternity Pay and SMP. Also just to say, the money I took home in those months was more than enough to qualify for Maternity Allowance.

Hope that all makes sense!

pmlindyloo

A very interesting question but I don't know the answer, soory!

However, suggest you do this.......

If you are not sure if you will qualify for MA you should ask your local Jobcentre Plus for form MA1 and make a claim or phone the JobCentre Plus claim line on 0800 055 6688. They will work out whether you can get the benefit. If you are not entitled to MA, they should automatically use the same claim form to check whether you can get Employment Support Allowance.

xxxpinkladyxxx

Just thought I'd update in case anyone else has this situation. Had to call the specific number for Maternity Allowance which is 0845 608 8610 and they said that SMP and my enhanced maternity pay will still count towards my earnings, as long as it was in the "test period" (66 weeks before due date) which it was.

frugalfrog

Being on maternity leave is still classes as being "employed", what you need to look for is if your National Insurance is being covered, which it is on SMP/MA/sick pay etc

I've been having similar issue but I am self employed (but don't earn much) & as I have paid in full my class 2 NIC (basic £2.40 per week for self employed) I am entitled to full MA! Yay!

Congratulations by the way on the next baby!