Which payslips to claim smp??

[loganberry12]

does it have to be the last 13 weeks payslips before you start maternity leave or can it be any of your payslips to send when claiming smp? i was working 40 hours a week but have reduced it to 28 because i was too tired to do 11 hour days which i was doing. Can i use my payslips from when i was earning better money so i can get more when i start the 6 weeks at 90% ?

[ChasingSquirrels]

your employer will do it automatically to the pay at the relevant date (15weeks before edd? not sure on this).

[WowOoo]

I think it can be any from the set dates. Sure this is what I did ( I worked diff hours each week so just took the best earning ones)

But don't quote me on that. Someone else will advise you beeter, am sure.

[WowOoo]

I called them and asked and they were v helpful.

[ChasingSquirrels]

here

[loganberry12]

Thanks chasingSquitrrels for that link. Just had a look and it says "Your employer will look at your gross earnings paid to you in a set period. This is usually the eight week period up to and including the 15th week before your EWC" so it looks as if ill have to go back to working 40 hours the 8 weeks before i leave GRRR which will be knackering !!

[ChasingSquirrels]

you wouldn't be leaving 15 weeks before your edd though?
8 weeks before the 15th week before edd is 17 - 25 weeks pg?

[loganberry12]

im even more confused now !! so which payslips would they go by??

[ChasingSquirrels]

"Your employer will look at your gross earnings paid to you in a set period. This is usually the eight week period up to and including the 15th week before your EWC"

EWC - expected week of confinement (ie edd week).
so 8 week period upto and including 15th week before ewc is;

40wk pg - 15wks = 25weeks, the 8 weeks upto that, ie 17/18weeks - 25weeks pg.

I think!

[loganberry12]

thanks sorry i have a case of pregnancy fuzzy head at the moment lol

[Biccy]

Are you thinking of maternity allowance rather than SMP though? Your reference to 13 weeks got me thinking, because for SMP average weekly earnings are calculated over the set period which is 8 weeks (as said by the others) but if it's maternity allowance you're going to get, then it's calculated over 13 weeks, and you can choose the highest earning 13 weeks in the 66 weeks before the week you are due. Then the rate you get is either 90% of your average weekly earnings, of the SMP rate - whichever is smaller.