Redundancy Insurance Valid whilst on Maternity Leave?

laulaubean

I have just been made redundant while on maternity leave. The co will be paying my remaining statutory maternity pay in a lump sum as part of my redundancy and notice package. I will be looking for work sooner than my originally planned return to work date now as, had I not been made redundant, I would have been in receipt of enhanced maternity pay (they wouldn't negotiate including this in my package).
I have been paying a substantial amount into redundancy insurance for the last couple of years but now I finally need it I am worried that it may not be valid on a technicality. The insurance requires that I am in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance which, I will 'sign on' for as soon as everything is toed up with work. My worry is that as I have been in receipt of statutory maternity pay, does this over-ride the JSA, i.e will I not be eligible for JSA as my co paid me SMP? Given that both are paid by the gov't, surely they will see from my NI number that I have had stat mat pay and therefore may not be entitled to JSA?

I even asked my employer to maybe not pay me the SMP as if I was coming back to work but as they are making me redundant whilst on mat leave they are legally entitled to pay - obviously can't be fraudulent!

I am really upset that on this technicality, my insurance may now not pay out. I haven't called the provider yet as I don't want to set myself up by asking daft questions!

Does anyone know where I stand please in this situation?

Thanks :-)