PhD and Maternity Allowance

[EffRam]

Hi there,

It's early days of BFP here but just been having a look at Maternity Allowance. I will have a period of suspension of study but no funding from university. Does anyone know if the tax free stipend I receive from them would be counted towards the earnings when applying for Mat Allowance, or if it would only be through self employed earnings?

Thanks!

Your stipend will not count I am afraid. Are you funded by your department or a council? Most research councils do offer 6 months of paid mat leave.

Ps CONGRATULATIONS

@leatherboundanddown sadly not, it's a university one so I don't think it comes with any benefits. I do a bit of private work so that will count, if I do make some voluntary NI contributions, I think. Will have to try and do a bit extra over next few months to get the average up!

It really is worth asking HR where you stand with it. It could be that they don't have a policy yet but you could fight for one. Are you in a union?

Not yet... Maybe I will join, then can ask when I'm a bit further along (it's really early days). Thank you so much!

You could approach your HR at the uni now they would have to keep it confidential.

You'd be best off speaking to your departmental administrator who will understand both the hr and funding aspect. If it's a university stipend then it's unlikely there would be any provision for this. You could ask if they could make one. At the university I worked at they often made one off special arrangements for PhD students.