maternity allowance after being abroad

[santana791]

Hi,

I´ve been living abroad for the past 11 months. My partner and I have decided to go back to living the good life in the UK. We are really keen to start trying for a baby asap. We are both likely to get average paying jobs and having worked it out, I think that as long as I receive Maternity Allowance, we will be fine financially. I plan to move back to the UK and get a job before getting pregnant. Does anyone know if my having been abroad for a year previous to getting pregnant could negatively impact on my right to maternity allowance?

Many thanks

[sepa]

I believe you have to be working for a certain amount of time to receive statutory maternity pay. Not sure how long it is though. I'm sure you can easily google it though to find out.

Good luck with your move back and trying for a baby

[santana791]

Thanks for your reply. You are right, I wouldn´t be eligible for stat maternity pay, but if I worked 26 weeks of the 66 weeks before my due date, I would be able to get maternity allowance (MA) which is a very similar amount of money. So I figured if I have a job before getting pregnant, I would be in a good position to complete 26 weeks work and be eligible for MA. My question is really whether or not being abroad for 1 year previous, would affect my right to MA.

[sepa]

No, I don't think that will matter as surely it's the same if someone didn't work for a year previous to getting a job