Redundancy and pregnancy

[WhisperOutLoud]

Not an AIBU, but desperately posting for traffic.

NC as I need this to be kept private in RL until everything's been agreed with work.

I'm currently pregnant and being made redundant. 100% nothing to do with the pregnancy.

I'm posting as I'd like to find out who I can go to for advice relating to MAT pay and benefits.

I'm sure that I'm correct, but really hoping I'm not. But basically I think I'm not going to be entitled to any form of MAT pay (even if I find a new job) or any form of benefits or maternity allowance.

I've worked full time my entire adult life, never been out of work and I'm struggling to come to terms with the fact We are now going to struggle massively for money.

How many weeks pregnant are you?

If you find another job you might be eligible for maternity allowance which is the same as SMP

Oh that is incredibly shit and I feel desperate for you.

Will you get any kind of redundancy pay-off which might cushion the financial blow?

I'm sure you've already trawled the web but I don't know if this is of any use?

www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/managing_redundancy_for_maternity_and_pregnancy_final.pdf

which incorporates...

Myth: If I make a pregnant employee redundant, I don’t have to pay them maternity pay as well.

If a pregnant employee qualifies for statutory maternity pay and is made redundant before going on maternity leave but after the beginning of the 15th week before the baby is due, you will need to pay her statutory maternity pay (SMP) as well as any redundancy payment. Remember you are reimbursed by the government for the SMP. If your company has a maternity policy which offers additional contractual maternity pay this would end when the contract ends unless you agree otherwise.

I'm not yet 12 weeks.

I've tried the online calculators. One tells me I don't qualify for statutory Mat pay. But to see if I'm entitled to a maternity allowance. Then the maternity allowance calculator tells me I'm no eligible as I qualify for statutory mat pay, which I know it's true!

How many weeks will you be when you leave the job? If more than 26 they will have to pay you maternity pay anyway.

www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents

There is a maternity checker on the government website where you can put in your due date and employment dates etc and it will tell you what you can get. Have a look at this and put in several scenarios (one where you do find a new job, another where you don’t) and then you can see where you stand.

You accrue your entitlement to mat pay whilst at work so if you have worked long enough your employer still needs to pay it...at least this was the case if you handed in notice. Not sure if redundancy is a different matter.
If you don’t qualify for mat pay you may get maternity allowance. But if you claim mat allowance and it turns out your employer should have paid it, your mat allowance claim would be turned down. Your employer has to give you an SMP1 form and state why they are not paying it to you...if none of the boxes apply it probably means they should be! At least this is how I understand it all!
www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-maternity-pay-employee-not-entitled-form-for-employers

Just seen you’re not 12 weeks yet so it may be that you won’t have been employed long enough when you are made redundant and so the top box on the form would apply. You could then use that to claim mat allowance but obviously entitlement to that will depend on other factors too.

I find Maternity Action a useful site (they also have a helpline) for information about maternity related work matters.

Redundancy during pregnancy: www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/redundancy-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/

Given you are 12 weeks now then my guess is that you won't be working for your employer in Qualifying Week (15th week before expected week of childbirth) so will not be eligible for SMP. You would therefore need to claim Maternity Allowance.
However check the dates: www.sdworx.co.uk/resources/smp-dates-calculator

Thank you everyone, it's all very overwhelming. I really appreciate all of your input

I would call ACAS, they're usually really good with these type of things - they really helped me. I found out I was going to be made redundant when I was 13 weeks pregnant with my second, but I was 34 weeks before I actually left. They tried to fob me off with SMP, but with ACAS's help and advice, I ended up with my full Maternity pay, according to the company's maternity policy (it was very generous; 6 month's full pay plus 13 weeks SMP) plus my redundancy payment. So I ended up with about a year's net salary and knowing there was no more where that came from, I was careful with it and managed to have 18 months off work, which was fab as I also had a 19 month old!

So don't be fobbed off, do try ACAS, or even CAB if you're really stuck and don't let the redundancy blight this happy time for you. Congratulations and good luck with your new baby!