Maternity allowance.

[Itsgottobethisone]

My baby is 10 days old and I’m currently furloughed. I did think I was entitled to smp and that was being but my employer has just told me I have to sort my maternity allowance myself. Am I too late to claim?

Did they say why you don't qualify for SMP and have they given you the SMP1 form?

And this should all have been sorted out well before your baby was born. Your employer sounds shit

It’ more because I was furloughed until August and would be back at work September so I wasn’t looking at maternity pay and now our circumstances have changed so I’m looking at having 6 months off. My employer was sorting out smp but the accountant says I’m not eligible as I don’t earn enough. It was in the process of being sorted before baby was born and I’m not sure why the delay but I’ve been too poorly to chase.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility

Your employer needs to give you a form (SMP1) for you to present with your claim, as it confirms you have been refused maternity allowance and why.

SMP1 for your employer is here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401639/smp1.pdf

The MA claim form for you to use is here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/maternity-allowance-claim-form

It has been years since I gave benefits advice so really don't want to try here as my knowledge is not up to date, but Maternity Action are v good : maternityaction.org.uk/advice/maternity-pay-questions/

What were your average weekly earnings before you were furloughed (maternity pay should be calculated on normal pay, not furlough pay)?

You need to have earned £120 on average per week between weeks 17 and 25 of pregnancy although if furloughed your normal wages should be counted instead

you can't have furlough pay if you are getting maternity pay/leave. Once you have the baby you come off furlough and onto maternity pay. What are your employers playing at?