TTC and looking for a new job???? pls help!

[mrsmamma]

Hi. Me and my hubby have been ttc for approx 4/5 months. I was hoping i could get pregnant straight away but so far nothing but BFN's. I am also VERY UNHAPPY in my current job which the stress of i fear may hinder my chances of getting pregnant. I desperately want to start looking for a new job but am worried that if i do and am lucky enough to get pregnant i wont be eligible for any maternity pay. I have looked into it and it seems if i did fall pregnant once i have a new job i wouldnt get smp but may get maternity allowance. Does anyone know anymore about this? I really dont want to stay at my current job incase it takes me months possibly years to get pregnant but couldnt afford not have any money whilst off!!

thanks xx

[KnackeredCow]

This link might help

You'll see that it states: "To qualify for SMP you must have been:

employed by the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due (the qualifying week)"

If I've calculated right, and a woman is due at 40 weeks, you must have been employed by the same employer for 26 weeks when you enter your 24th week of pregnancy (40-1-15). So that means you can conceive 4 weeks after starting your job (making you 2 weeks pregnant) and get SMP. I think!!!! Might be worth re-posting on the employment thread. One of the gurus there might give better clarification over timings etc.

Don't put off looking for another job if you are unhappy. DH and I started trying for a baby in October 2009. I'm still not pregnant. I left one job in May 2010 and thought I'd get pregnant. I went back to work in March 2011 and am still not pregnant. I'm not for one minute suggesting that you won't get pregnant a lot more quickly (I've been diagnosed with infertility recently and DH and I will be progressing to IVF), but putting your life on hold can be soul destroying.

Good luck!

xx

[Sn0wGoose]

You'd still get the gov't maternity pay, wouldn't you? It's only the job's topped up 90% bit you'd miss out on and, depending on your job and earnings, it might not make a massive difference anyway :)

[KnackeredCow]

No, sadly

The government part is the SMP bit and you don't automatically qualify as above. Therefore, if you joined a new employer whilst already pregnant, you wouldn't qualify for SMP (the gov't bit).

An employer may choose to pay additional benefits, but they do not have to. When they choose to pay out additional maternity benefits is at their discretion. So my employer offers 8 weeks on full pay, 8 weeks on half pay and SMP from that point on. Although I would qualify for SMP should I get pregnant now, I wouldn't qualify for additional maternity pay because my employer chooses to pay this if you are no more than 25 weeks pregnant at your 52nd week of employment - ie you have to have been employed for 6 months before getting pregnant. This will vary from employer to employer.

If you don't qualify for SMP because you haven't been with an employer long enough, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance.

[GenericDietCola]

Hi mrs, this happened to me in that I started a job when I was 4 weeks pregnant, so didn't qualify for SMP. However, I did qualify for maternity allowance (which was exactly the same amount of money as SMP) so you shouldn't lose out. As Sn0wGoose and KnackeredCow say, I think you would only miss out on any extra that your new company would give you to top up the maternity pay. I think (from memory) that you qualify for maternity allowance as long as you've been employed throughout your pregnancy, even if that was with two different employers.

Good luck and, like others have said, don't put your life on hold while ttc.

[Sn0wGoose]

Yes, that's what I meant generic -- I was sure you still got something!

[mrsmamma]

Hi thanks everyone. I wouldnt expect employment benefits but understood it if i didnt get smp then id get MA. Yes i dont think it is wise to stay in a job i hate for the hope of getting pregnant! too much pressure on my body.

knackered cow sorry to hear about your infertility and good luck with the IVF!!

[KnackeredCow]

Thanks MrsMamma

Good luck in the job search!