Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Maternity allowance

24 replies

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 11:53

Hi, I'm sooo confused so any help would be greatly appreciated.

My contract with work runs out in a few weeks, and I will have worked 25 out of the 26 weeks required in the test period for maternity allowance. I'm thinking of registering as self employed and paying class 2 contributions for a few extra weeks in order to make it over the 26 week threshold and still be eligible for maternity allowance. Will they take into consideration the 25 weeks of employment as well as any self- employed time as long as I pay my class 2 contributions? Or to be safe should I register as self employed now and start paying class 2, even though I'm still employed for a few more weeks? No clue!

Any help would be appreciated

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Rockchick1984 · 08/12/2013 12:51

You know its 26 weeks out of the previous 66 weeks? Doesn't just have to be with your current employer?

Original poster

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 13:00

I was a student in those weeks, and just a cash in hand bar job so obviously it doesn't count. Ugh!

OP posts:

HopeS01 · 08/12/2013 14:28

I think that might qualify as benefit fraud

Original poster

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 14:30

Ah okay I didn't realise, I'd just seen it mentioned on other forums. Won't be doing that then!!

OP posts:

huffpuff75 · 08/12/2013 14:35

Could you ask work for an extra week? Are they the sort of employers that might want to help you out if you told them how much extra support you'd get?

Original poster

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 14:42

They are not helpful at all which is unfortunate. I'm clutching at straws really because I want to work but I am starting to show so I don't think it's going to be very easy finding a job where they'll happily take me on. I wonder if I would get any temp work... feels all a bit impossible at the moment.

OP posts:

Rockchick1984 · 08/12/2013 15:02

Agree, unless you are actually working self employed then don't just register for the sake of it (obviously if you're going to be working self employed then that's different). I'm sure if you register with a temp agency you will get some work as they won't care if you're pregnant or not as long as you turn up on the day and do the job :)

Original poster

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 15:14

I really hope so! I would go self employed but I don't think I'd earn much and I'd prefer to be employed. If I can't find anything I guess I'll have no choice, but you're right, I definitely don't want to do anything that will get me into trouble. Glad I asked now.

OP posts:

Armadale · 08/12/2013 15:19

Don't register as self employed just to take you one extra week so you qualify- it is a hassle in terms of registering, doing a SA tax return etc....get a temp job- maybe get a weeks work in a shop on the xmas run up etc- you only have to be earning £30 a week for it to be counted- so part time will do to get over the threshold-

Original poster

Scheriously · 08/12/2013 15:32

Thanks Armadale, I will def be doing this when my contract runs out.

OP posts:

StillPukin · 08/12/2013 17:36

I would ring up the DWP and check. I'm not sure the above information is correct,,, I've only been with my current employer since March (not sure how many weeks that is but its a lot less than 66) and I start mat leave next week and I qualify for Maternity Allowance

Armadale · 08/12/2013 17:45

It is currently 26 weeks out of the 66 week test period

StillPukin · 08/12/2013 17:52

Ah ok.

Misty9 · 08/12/2013 20:49

You have to have worked those 26 out of 66 before a certain period in your pregnancy though...I'll check which week before edd it is, hang on...

Misty9 · 08/12/2013 20:52

Nope, I was wrong it's 26 weeks out of the 66 up to the week your baby is due. I missed out on statutory by one piddling week, but I will get MA at least.
Part weeks count as well, will you definitely only have worked 25? Might be worth asking work if you can stay one week?

Firsttimemumtobe12 · 09/12/2013 01:33

I'm not sure if it's the same as it's not paid but look into volunteer work for a couple weeks? Could bump up the week extra and always looks good on a cv and you could really enjoy it. Hope it helps.

Original poster

Scheriously · 09/12/2013 09:58

Thanks ladies. There is no chance of staying on at work, which is a shame in terms of the 26 weeks. I'm not sure if volunteering would count but I'll look info it, thank you. I'll figure something out, I have a degree and a few years of work experience so there's got to be something! I just really hope, as I said up thread, that being pregnant doesn't put people off.

OP posts:

froubylou · 09/12/2013 10:07

Have you taken all your holiday days? Wiyh your current employer? Just thinking if you haven't had your stat days you might just have enough to scrape through.

And you have to be registered as s/e for 2 years before claiming ma.

Definitely explain to work your situation. I hope that they are not letting you go due to your pgy? If not then try to get a shift anywhere at all. The problem will be it is a bit of a faff from an employers point of view to set someone up as employed for the sake of 1 week.

Double check all your dates with your current employer. You only need 25 weeks plus 1 day so they really are being a bit mean if they can't or won't help out.

Original poster

Scheriously · 09/12/2013 10:15

Hold on - I have 25 weeks and 2 days. Will that be okay then?! Thanks froubylou!

OP posts:

Rockchick1984 · 09/12/2013 11:31

You need 26 weeks where you have earned at least £30 per week - this could be one day a week or 5 days a week, it doesn't matter.

Original poster

Scheriously · 09/12/2013 11:37

So even though I work a 5 day week normally, those 2 days will count as my 26th week? I earn about £400 a week, so those 2 days would be worth over £30 easily... Do you think that will be okay? I just want a solid back up plan in case I can't find any other work.

OP posts:

GreenGiant3 · 09/12/2013 11:58

They only ask you to provide 12 weeks worth of payslips anyway, I wouldn't worry too much just appt for it and provide 12 weeks payslips

froubylou · 09/12/2013 12:26

You should be fine then!

Give the ma people a call and ask them to be doubly sure though. That way you can relax a bit.

The helpline is very good. I am s/e and have been for about 5 years. But for some reason wasn't registered to pay class ii national insurance. They sorted that for me and I made a payment for the 26 weeks and I got my first payment ladt week.

This was all due to a thread on here!

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 09/12/2013 12:37

Double check.

But do also check holiday. You are entitled to accrue holiday even on a fixed contract. If they haven't been, you should approach work because they should extend your contract long enough to cover untaken holiday (they can actually pay a lump sum instead, but there's not much in it for them, so even the most hard hearted HR departments would usually extend in this situation).

Flip