Maternity leave advice needed.

[AliceJennifer23]

Helloo all. I'm new here and after silently creeping through the different discussions I think I feel ready to ask a question! Hurray!!

I found out nearly two weeks ago now that me and my partner are expecting! A huge shock to us but we're both thrilled now we've had time to let it sink in a bit.

My question is regarding maternity pay. I am currently unemployed after leaving my zero hour contract job last week, I got offered a 1 year fixed term job with the NHS in August and I am hoping to start that by the end of October at the latest. The HR dept are the worst I've ever known! Anyyyway I know I wouldn't be entitled to the NHS mat pay as I wouldn't of worked there long enough but will I be entitled to the government one? I've always worked apart from this gap whilst i wait to start my NHS job. But for the past year they have been zero hour contract jobs and i've been getting £500 - £800 per month. I'm so confused by the way it's explained on the gov website. Also would I still be able to go back to my job after the maternity (if I am entitled) as I wouldn't of worked a year?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. I'm getting worried i'm gonna be jobless and penniless when the baby arrives :(

My brain is like mush so I'm sorry if non of this makes sense haha.

Congratulations. You'll be entitled to take up to 12 months mat leave and return to your job (as long as you've not got a temporary or fixed term contract which ends during mat leave). I don't think that you are entitled to any mat pay, I believe that you have to be working at a place for a week or 2 before getting pregnant to qualify, based on the dates etc.

The .gov website has a calculator, which makes it a little easier. You may be entitled to maternity allowance but I don't know.

Like Juno says, you won't be entitled to SMP (the government one) as you have to have started your current employment before becoming pregnant to qualify but you may be entitled to maternity allowance. I looked into all of this as I had an interview for a new job on the day I got my BFP so didn't go in the end as I realised that I wouldn't qualify for either company or SMP if I moved from my current employer.

Ahh that sucks about the returning to work thing, my fixed contract will run out during my mat leave. Just gonna have to work my butt off whilst i'm there a pray they let me go back. I did try doing the calculator and it said I was entitled but because my wage has changed so much month by month I had to do a guesstimate for most of the questions, might just have to ring up and save my brain the stress.
Thanks Junos!

I am hoping I qualify for the £139 pw one, is that the maternity allowance?

You will be entitled to the maternity allowance as you've worked. As long as you've worked and can't claim SMP from your empldoyer, than you get maternity allowance.