Made redundant then find out I am pregnant a week later - help

[Padstow1510]

Hi all,

I was recently made redundant from a job I enjoyed, I didn't see it coming at all and have not been in this situation before. I found out just over a week later I was pregnant. I am now around 8 weeks and frantically trying to find a new job....and also trying to say sane with the pregnancy symptoms and sheer boredom of not working.

Has anyone been in this situation and has any advice or experience to share? I feel like anything would help, as I am still so early we have not told anyone I am pregnant so it is difficult to chat with friends or family.

Thanks so much
x

[mirokarikovo]

Argh what a nightmare. Sorry that you are going through this.

Firstly - what is the time scale for the redundancy - are you still employed but under notice or have you already stopped work? If you are still employed and you can manage to string out the employment until you are 29 weeks then you can go straight to maternity leave with full smp. I know that is unlikely though.

Failing that, you'll be on maternity allowance. I'm pretty sure you will qualify for that - you need to have been in paid employment for 26 of the 66 weeks ending on your baby's due date which you will qualify easily for unless the job that just made you redundant was very short term. But you can't get that until you are 29 weeks pg at the earliest so have to make ends meet until then.

Job hunting whilst pg will be no fun at all. Sorry I don't have any tips for you but hope other posters will be able to help on that.