Maternity allowance

[auroracloud]

Sorry didn't really know where to put this but hoping someone can help!

I had worked with a company since late 2014. I had my first child April 2016 and took a year maternity leave plus holidays so I didn't return to work until June 2016. Although back on pay roll before then.

I left my job end of June 2016 so I don't qualify for SMP. My next baby is due January 2018 so do I qualify for maternity allowance?

It says online working for 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks prior to having the baby. I was employed for that period of time but not paid for portions of it? Hoping someone with experience of this can come and help out so thank you in advance!

That should say June 2017 sorry

You need to be employed for 26 of the 66 weeks before the qualifying week and you need to make an average of a certain amount per week for 13 of those 26 weeks. Why were you not paid? Do you mean because you were on maternity leave before? If you were employed from when you went back after maternity in June 2016 until June of this year, you may qualify. I'm not exactly sure of the dates, but you would have to count back 66 weeks from your due date and you will need to have been employed for 26 weeks of those dates and getting paid at least 30 quid a week for 13 of them. It may be tight, but you may just do it.

@mindutopia thank you! Looks like I was paid a tiny amount for majority of those weeks hopefully I make it!

You need to send 13 pay checks with an average of over £175 per week to qualify for the £140 for 39 weeks. If it's less, you will only qualify for (I think) £40 per week.

It doesn't matter if you weren't paid for all of it as long as you were employed. E.g. I took a 3 month unpaid sabbatical in my test period and that counts as employment.

You meet the right amount of weeks, you need need to pull out the highest payslips covering 13 weeks to send with your application. If they average over £175 per week you'll get the full amount.

Hope that makes sense, I'm in a similar boat so I've been on the phone to them about 8 times trying to figure it all out!

@clarebear1983 this is such a huge help thank you so much! I earned my highest when I took my holidays so ill send those ones what about maternity pay? Does that count? Because it might be the case that for one week my work didn't pay me but I had maternity pay coming in!