maternity cover job - what am I entitled to?

[Nickname1980]

I have just been offered a one-year maternity cover post. (My current job is contract and will end this summer anyway, unless i leave before it.)

My husband and I would like to try for a baby within this next year. If I take this maternity cover post and become pregnant, am I entitled to any maternity benefit when the job finishes?

Depends on when you get pregnant, it's likely to be maternity allowance through the government rather than SMP

If you become pregnant after you've started the job, and have at least 26 weeks service by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant, and earn enough, you will get SMP. It won't matter that you leave employment, you'll still get it.

If you become pregnant then take the maternity cover post, you'll probably get MA, which is the same as SMP except the first 6 weeks.

Are you a teacher by an chance?

Thank you - this is helpful! I'm not a teacher, I'm a journalist