Taking SSP during Pregnancy can lose your SMP????!!!!

ymoishg

My wife recently began her maternity leave and pay from her employer, which she has been working for for the past 4 years. When her first SMP payslip came out, i realised that she was off sick with HG during the 8 week 'relevant period', and so her maternity pay for the whole 37 weeks will be based on her lower wage!
More than this, if she would have stayed off 'sick' for another 4 weeks, she would have not been eligible for SMP at all, and would have got SMA, which would give much more than she is currently being given!!!
What is anyone sick with pregnancy (which i would have thought is quite common) supposed to do if being sick will make them lose out on SMP?

Icequeen1

Does she qualify for SMP only - no contractual maternity pay?

It is correct that sick pay can affect the SMP calculation. See https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/sickness-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/ 

But i don't understand how SMA would be higher - after the first 6 weeks SMA is the same amount as SMP £151.97 or 90% of average earnings (if lower). 

IQ

poppy12345

You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit. If you're claiming Tax Credits this will end if you claim UC.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=f789198d-f99c-45f3-a053-922fb58d4ea8

If she claimed SMA she wouldn't receive a higher amount, see link. https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get