Statutory maternity pay advice!

[Godmumma]

Hi Guys! Just want to see if anyone has been in the same position as I am currently worried sick! So I have been made redundant by my employer at 27 weeks pregnant I have been with the company for over a year! They confirmed with me before I left I can still have my statutory maternity pay. But they are now refusing and say i have to claim this through the government. I know this is incorrect as I have done my research and if I am made redundant within the 15 week mark of when I am due and worked for them more than 26 weeks they are still liable to pay it. I am going to fight it, it's just worrying as I will have no other income. I even said to them if you arent going to pay can you fill in an SMP1 form to state their reasons why which again they refused! Has anyone experienced this?

Please call ACAS

We have an eligibility checker that will confirm whether you should be claiming SMP from your employer or Maternity Allowance from the JobCentre.

www.maternity.money/maternity-eligibility-calculator

If this confirms that you should be receiving SMP from your employer and they refuse to pay it, then you should contact the JobCentre (it is wise to do this anyway if you have been made redundant, you may be eligible for other benefits) and tell them, they will probably tell you to contact HMRC who will contact your employer and in some circumstances may pay you SMP directly, although I think this is only if the employer is going bust.

As @BritInUS1 suggests, ACAS is another route which you should pursue in tandem with the JobCentre/HMRC

This is a very good article:
maternityaction.org.uk/advice/redundancy-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/