I am gutted that I may not be able to try for No.3 because of money )-:

[mosschops30]

Posted a thread last night asking questions about going for No. 3.

We would like to start trying at the end of my degree (this summer) and was hoping to get a job, work for 6-7 months, off on paid mat leave. But looks like my future employer (NHS) doesnt pay mat leave unless youve been employed for 2 years

I wont be eligible for mat allowance or SMP as havent paid any contributions for 3 years (despite having paid them for the 13 years previous to my degree grrrrr).

I cant believe this, I really thought we'd be able to go for it

Any ideas?

hi mossy

i would like another too, have always wanted 3, but we have jsut moved house and have a bigger mortgage which means i meed to work ft, dont want to pay childcare etc etc

afaik with the nhs (who i work for) you have to have worked for them for 26wks by the time you are 29wks pg

i am 99% sure of that

some one may hopefully confirm

I didn't know that about not having contributed for 2 years - such a shame and it seems really unfair Is that definitely the case? (I'm not casting aspersions on your knowledge I would just hate for you to be labouring under a misapprehension about something so important) You would be employed whilst ttc, right? Would that not sort out the contributions problem?

I know how you feel. We are delaying (and delaying and delaying) TTC no 2 for financial reasons.

According to direct.gov.uk you need to have been employed employed by the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due earning an average of at least £87 a week. Which I'm not sure how it works with your timing but is definitely less than 2 years - or are you talking about an additional contractual entitlement here?

yes np I have just phoned them youre right. So if I took a post in September how long would it be befoire I could be pg?? (Cant work it out).
Wonder if the fact that i work for the trust on the nurse bank would count as employment (probably not, probably need to be permanent and more hours)

Tigerfeet, they have some window where you have to have earned more than £30 per week. I'm not sure when that window would be but its quite a while before your pg IIRC, I claimed it when I had ds. I will have to look into it though

Its so frustrating!

moss if you ahve worked REGULARLY for the bank - then you will be fine

do at least one shift a week for 26 weeks and you will be ok

you are an employee as much as anyone with a contraact

as long as you ahve 26 weeks work under your belt by the time you are 29wks pg you are ok

I hope you can work it out, moss!

I cant always do one shift a week, but have worked on the bank for the trust since 2005.

So i could be 3 weeks pg when I start then is that right?
Anyone know how much SMP is?

isn't it now £106/week?

don't forget you might also be eligible for increased child tax credit and your partner for increased working tax credit if his income is below a certain level.

thanks expat but we are never eligible for anything because dh earns a good wage, sadly its not good enough to sustain us both.

£106 would be fine, I would need about £100 a week!

So can I be pg when I start then, have I got that right?

bumping because i'm not quite sure.

if you can't get SMP you may be eligible for maternity allowance based on past NI contributions, but someone more knowledgeable will be along soon i'm sure!

I was on a permenant contract when I got pregnant and then at about 6 months pregnant changed to being working for the bank. They were reluctant to give me my mat pay saying that as I had changed to working for the bank I couldn't claim but once I pointed out that all of my payslips came from the trust they did give in. So if it's for the same trust it should be fine.

thanks going for 3. I certainly need to look into this some more but I'm just glad that it might now be a possibility