SMP and Redundancy - any legal type people about to help?

[singingsister]

I 21 weeks pregnant and being made redundant. With all due credit to my work, my boss wants to ensure that I get my SMP etc.

They are proposing to give me 4 weeks notice and also together with my 2 years redundancy (£700) pay my SMP to me upfront in full with my redundancy "package".

That sounds lovely on the face of it, but I'm worried that if they do pay my SMP upfront it would affect any benefits due to me due to being a new mum. I'm thinking being paid SMP up front just seems too easy.

Can anyone help?

[flowerybeanbag]

What benefits do you think it might affect? Are you worried that having it in a lump sum means it might qualify as some sort of savings or something?

I've no idea about benefits rules and entitlements, you might be better off asking this in money matters as if it's your benefits you are concerned about it doesn't really relate to employment as such.

Or you could try entitledto to see what benefits you will be entitled to and whether any of them are affected by money being received in a lump sum or not.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

What benefits are you worried about it affecting? Do you claim any means tested ones?

[singingsister]

I'm not sure. That's the thing. My head is swimming!

Them paying me my SMP upfront is lovely but just seems too easy!

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Ok, I assume you aren't claiming any benefits at the moment.

The lump sum wont affect child benefit neither will it affect tax credits. It would affect WTC as you're not employed but you may still qualify for that element if your OH works but has a low wage.