Maternity Pay

[slippynips]

Hi, I’ve posted this in money matters too but thought someone here might be able to help.

I have just found out I’m pregnant and unclear on where I stand financially.

I started my new job on 7th April. It is 11 hours per week at £9.22 per hour. My partner works full time and I have been at home with our son. We claim housing benefit and tax credits. I decided to do a couple of hours at the weekend (when DP is home to look after DS) purely for social reasons and to try and curb the loneliness of being a SAHM.

My issue is that I don’t think I will qualify for Mat pay through employer as I will only have worked there for 24 weeks by the time I’m 25 weeks gone (cut off point for pay). I also believe I am £12 per week under the Lower Earnings Linit to claim maternity support from DWP.

So what do I do? Do I quit before I would go on maternity leave and get all benefits recalculated for me not earning? We really can’t afford to lose a penny but I’m worried I won’t be able to reclaim benefits if I quit before giving birth??

Any advise on this please?

You can’t quit- you would be sanctioned for leaving a job and being intentionally unemployed.

Make an appointment with a money advice worker either at local authority or citizens advice

You may well be able to claim maternity allowance, it's not as much as SMP but still worth having www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility

Don’t over react.

Can you get an extra couple of hours a week? That would cover off the money issue.

Some midwives will alter the due date on the MATB1 form by a week or 2 in circumstances like this.

@MyYoniFromHull looking online I don’t earn enough to claim the government maternity allowance

@TittyGolightly do you know when I would have to pick up more hours? It is it an average pay from your 6 - 9 months of pregnancy (which has been the case previously?) or should I speak to employer ASAP? I don’t want to have to tell them I’m pregnant yet as I will only be 4 weeks on Friday - and 4th week on the job!

Are you paid monthly or weekly? It’s generally the 8 weeks before your 25th week of pregnancy that’s counted for SMP. So weeks 17-25. Your gross earnings will need to be about £150 a week at that point (the dates change slightly if you’re monthly paid).