Maternity allowance- very confused please help me ?

[lope85]

Hi i have recently left my job due to relocating. I believe I'm eligible for maternity allowance as I have worked over 26 weeks in my test period and defo not eligible for smp.
I am currently filling in the application form and one of the questions is 'have you started your maternity leave?'i don't know how I am supposed to answer this as I resigned from my job. I have just put a note in with the form to state this.
One of the sections asks if I have received or am owed holiday pay. I think I am but my employer has been very unhelpful at letting me know how much. I can't even receive a payslip as their online payslip viewing system has deleted me !Shall I just put 'unsure' on the form ? Also, because of not being able to view my payslips, i have been unable to print my 4th (monthly) payslip, i have 3 payslips already which will literally cover 13 weeks.

Sorry if theses seem like silly questions! I was hoping to send the form today as I am going on holiday for a couple weeks and wanted it sorted or at least in the pipeline for when i am back.I am just worried some jobsworth is gong to pick up my application and nit pick over things like my payslips and boxes not being ticked!! Would really appreciate some help !! I went to CAB and they didn't have a clue xx

How pregnant are you? You can't start your maternity leave til 29 weeks so if you are less than that then you haven't started maternity leave yet. Do you want to start it now? I think it's up to you really - you can start it (and get your MA) any time from 29 weeks til your due date. If you have already had the baby then you are already on maternity leave.

Hi Rubirosa, I am 26 weeks, at the moment, when i get back from holiday ill be 29

Hi lope85

I found the people at the Maternity Allowance department really helpful. I think they'd have to use a case-by-case approach rather than a blanket approach as there are so many varied sets of circumstances where you might be entitled to MA so I wouldn't worry about not being able to give exact answers - they will contact you for clarification if needed.

Where your previous employer is concerned, I'd probably be writing them a formal letter requesting the outstanding information - what is your outstanding holiday entitlement and forwarding the most recent payslip which you can't access. Sounds very poor that they haven't provided you with these details already. Glad you're no longer employed by them?

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

Hi

I was offered redundancy when I was pregnant with my 2nd and quite frankly I jumped at the chance!!

In my case I was informed that because I had asked to stay a few weeks longer then the company I was leaving had to pay my maternity. I was told this was due to my being there in the 15th wk prior to my due date. That is the week when your maternity allowance is calculated. It was handy as I was paid my MA in one lump.

Talk to the MA dept as there were really helpful and gave me all the info I needed.

As for your prev employer. You have to be provided with any information you require by law. Right to them formally and request it. If you mention this to the MA dept, they might point you in the right direction as to what you can do about them.

Hope all goes well xx

Morning
This is really helpful for holiday pay calculation so you can chase your previous employer:

www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1079427399

This is helpful to explain SMA:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018869

Best