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Pregnancy

Maternity allowance confusion

15 replies

Natalie2900 · 15/05/2017 19:58

Hi just wondering if anybody can help me or has any advise.
I basically have to apply for maternity allowance because I haven't been working at my current job long enough to receive SMP.
Maternity allowance says you have to have worked 26 weeks within 66 weeks. Which I have, two different jobs it also says you can use 13 weeks payslips. Can I use this from my old job?
Also I've seen a lot of people saying use the wage slips with highest pay ( I would like to use my old job as I earned more there )
But I keep reading online that you'll get
90% of your wage or £140 whichever is lowest. I earn £228 a week so will I get 90% of this!? Or not. Surely there's no point in getting my highest pay if it's higher than £140 ??
So confused. I will ring helpline tomorrow on my lunch break. Hopefully I'll get through to them in half an hour! Xxx

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Natalie2900 · 15/05/2017 20:00

Just read this back and not sure it makes
Sense.. websites say your weekly earnings or £140 whichever is lower. Obviously the £140 is lower than my wage so do I need to bother finding the highest wage slips? And can I use my
Old works wage slips if they are within the test
Period?

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welshweasel · 15/05/2017 20:02

The maximum you can get is £140.98 per week for 39 weeks. To get this you must have been employed/self employed for 26 weeks of the 66 prior to your baby being due and paid at least 13 weeks class 2 NI insurance contributions. There's an online calculator that will tell you what you can claim.

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newmumwithquestions · 15/05/2017 20:04

You can choose any pay slips within the qualifying period - they don't have to be the highest.

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Natalie2900 · 15/05/2017 20:06

So my highest wage slips are completely irrelevant? I've worked 26 weeks. I didn't work for 2 weeks in January but worked for the last 4 years solid. But within the test
Period I've worked basically 64 weeks so I should be fine and also paid NI ( don't know about the class)

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Natalie2900 · 15/05/2017 20:14

Can I just confirm the class 2 NI is for self employed people? As I have googled it and it seems I pay class 1? Class 2 is self
Employed people and I'm not self employed
People are advising you use highest pay slips though?

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MrsPear · 15/05/2017 21:09

Right I don't why this popped up on my feed but it has! I applied for ma a long time ago - 7 years now so things may have changed. But it was on a sliding scale - the more you earnt the more you got which was never much but anyway. I used 2 different jobs - I was made redundant from one then a few month gap then another job. I sent off the figures which showed the most pay in order to get the most allowance which worked as I was paid the maximum. If I remember right the pack comes with a table to help you work out dates. Work out the period of time first then pick and choose the best paid ones.

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MrsPear · 15/05/2017 21:09

Yes you are class one as an employee

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arbrighton · 15/05/2017 21:22

the class 2 bit is for Self employed- basically if you've paid enough NI, they award MA or give you the opportunity to pay up so you get it (which probably cancels itself out). I didn't have to send anything about my earnings in as SE

Just waiting to hear if they've awarded it now

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smu06set · 15/05/2017 21:25

Smp is 90% of full pay for 6 weeks - hence the highest pay slips. It then drops to £140 per week.

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arbrighton · 15/05/2017 21:26

@smu06set

We're not talking about SMP here....

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Nanna50 · 15/05/2017 21:35

In your case it doesn't matter which payslips you use, the rule is there to enable lower paid workers to maximise their maternity allowance payments by choosing their 13 highest wages from random weeks.

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PeanutJuice · 15/05/2017 22:51

Hi, can someone please explain to me what happens if you are already pregnant when you accept a new role and switch employers. Are you still eligible for maternity pay? The guidance I read stated "having worked for your current employer for more than 26 weeks before the qualifying week of pregnancy" and its confused me. Is it your current employer or any? (Sorry for hijacking thread!)

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Mummyh2016 · 16/05/2017 07:11

Pretty sure it's current employer so in your case you would need to apply for maternity allowance rather than SMP.

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arbrighton · 16/05/2017 10:01

@peanutjuice

It's current employer so You'll need to do the Mat allowance form. Only things like NHS and teaching within same LA but moving school tend to count if you move job as 'continuous employment'

It's not a very easy to follow form so I would suggest getting it now and having a really good read so you know when to send it off (not BEFORE 24 weeks) and what evidence you'll need

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Natalie2900 · 16/05/2017 16:51

such a shame I literally missed SMP by 3 weeks, going to have to make some cut backs if I'll only get £140 a week!!
I'm 18 weeks and still haven't told my employer either!! I'm so scared! Because I've not worked there long I'm terrified he'll fire me because I'm on 6 month probation ( I know he can't because I'm pregnant but he can find any excuse to sack me in my probation surely ) anyway that's another story. I'll try phone the help line now! Thank you for all help xxx