Going on maternity while covering maternity?

[Jellibab]

Are you still entitled to maternity pay if you’re covering someone else’s maternity?

Isn't it based on how long you've worked there? 26 weeks I think is the number?

I think it’s 26 weeks before the 15th week before you are due to give birth, but if you have that length of service I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t be entitled to maternity pay. Unless it was a fixed term contract for cover due to expire when you would be on maternity leave?