Maternity Allowance

ngozi79

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation as me, and can offer any advice on the likely outcome.

I am pregnant with my second child. Due 3rd Jan 2015.

I was paid SMP for my first child 'for the period up until 31st March 2014' (notice my wording here). And so in theory I qualify for Maternity Allowance on child number 2. I have confirmed this on the HMRC online calculator.

The complicating factor is that whilst I received SMP for the period up until 31st March 2014, I was actually paid it in a lump sum back in July 2013 as part of a redundancy package by my former employer.

So I have received SMP for the period 1st July 2013 to 31st March 2014, but I was not in employment. It appears that this decision made by my previous employer to make their lives easier by paying a lump sum, means that I do not qualify for Maternity Allowance.

I can prove the time period that my SMP covered with my redundancy contract.

Has anyone been in a similar situation before, appealed and won the decision to receive MA? Am I wasting my time with the HMRC appeals process? I've already tried talking to JC+ who gave me a telephone number to talk to HMRC, who then told me that they don't deal with MA.....

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks!

pmlindyloo

ngozi79 wrote: »

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation as me, and can offer any advice on the likely outcome.

I am pregnant with my second child. Due 3rd Jan 2015.

I was paid SMP for my first child 'for the period up until 31st March 2014' (notice my wording here). And so in theory I qualify for Maternity Allowance on child number 2. I have confirmed this on the HMRC online calculator.

The complicating factor is that whilst I received SMP for the period up until 31st March 2014, I was actually paid it in a lump sum back in July 2013 as part of a redundancy package by my former employer.

So I have received SMP for the period 1st July 2013 to 31st March 2014, but I was not in employment. It appears that this decision made by my previous employer to make their lives easier by paying a lump sum, means that I do not qualify for Maternity Allowance.

I can prove the time period that my SMP covered with my redundancy contract.

Has anyone been in a similar situation before, appealed and won the decision to receive MA? Am I wasting my time with the HMRC appeals process? I've already tried talking to JC+ who gave me a telephone number to talk to HMRC, who then told me that they don't deal with MA.....

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks!

I will try to help

To receive MA you need to have been employed for at least 26 weeks during the 66 weeks up to and including the week baby is due.

Since you have been made redundant then you would have ceased to have been employed at the end of your notice period - when was that?

Link for you.

http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/redundancy.pdf