Maternity allowance - help!

[Duckyneedsaclean]

Hoping someone can help - I can't figure out of I'm eligible for maternity allowance or not.

I will have been employed for the required 26 weeks, and have earned over £390 in a 13 week test period (way over!). However, I've only actually worked for 10 weeks - zero hours contract.

The form says I need to send in 13 payslips, but only have 10 - is this an issue? There me to be conflicting advice about whether it's at least £30 in 13 weeks, or at least £30 a week on average over 13 weeks.

I hope this vaguely makes sense! Thanks

You have to be in paid work for at least 13 weeks in total. If you only did paid work for 10 weeks you won't be eligible. But it's a long period - 66 weeks before the due date, which is about 15 months. Have you been on a zero hours contract the whole time?

I take it you've looked here?
www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility
And used the online calculator?
www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents

When's your baby due? Any chance you could do 3 more weeks paid work between now and then?

I thought it was 13 weeks paid, but this on the .gov calculator suggests it's on average?

@AnotherEmma no, I'll only have been on the contract for exactly the qualifying 26 weeks.

I could possibly do 3 more weeks - but it's hard going 10hr shifts on your feet the whole time. (nurse at covid vaccine centre). Plus difficulty getting the shifts booked. I'm 32 weeks so getting heavy now.

Could you just do one shift a week for the next 3 weeks?