Benefit - Questions - Please help :-(

kooger21

As my g/f wont be entitled to SMP she wants to leave her mini part time job, as she has lots of nusrsing placments coming up very soon, if she does this will she still be entitled to MA, if someone could help that would be great, thanks

stazi

Your own post #5 tells you the MA conditions.
You/she will need to look at her payslips/Test Period to decide if she will qualify for MA if she stops work now.

kooger21

So if she does stop work now, and applys for MA will they ask why she left her current 1 day a week part time employment?

Also how do they calculate the average weekly pay (as i know this has to be over £30 a week) do they just add up the 13 payslips you submit and divide the total by 13?

Thanks

wornoutmumoftwo

Take a look at this, it's a one off payment towards a first child costs such as cot/pram;

http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/support/helpwithchildcarecosts/maternitygrant/

kooger21

hi there we wont get surestart as i earn to much!

Although i still need answers to this if possible:

So if she does stop work now, and applys for MA will they ask why she left her current 1 day a week part time employment?

Also how do they calculate the average weekly pay (as i know this has to be over £30 a week) do they just add up the 13 payslips you submit and divide the total by 13?

Thanks

stazi

kooger21
For MA puposes, JCP are not interested why/when she left work.
However, if she was still employed in the 15th week before she is due, she will need to get a form SMP1 from the employer to say why SMP is not payable.
Yes, average earnings are calculated by adding up the gross earnings from the 13 payslips /by 13, and then MA would be payable at 90% of the av earnings- eg av earnings £30pw=MA at £27pw.

kooger21

Thanks for that, the 15th week would be about the 18th July, so from my way of thinking it would be better if she left her little job before this date as she would be able to get probably double the amount of money from maternity allowance this due to the fact that she can pick 13 weeks worth of payslips where she earned overtime etc