SMP - Don't qualify - What now?

[RedWineAllMine]

Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on this or who has been in the same situation.
Ive been told I won't get any SMP or maternity payment and I'm struggling to see how we are going to cope once baby is here. I don't qualify for it from my old job, and in my current job I currently work part tine in this pregnancy and haven't worked there long enough to get SMP. I knew I wouldn't qualify from my work but they told me I would still get it but I have to claim it from the government at the job centre.
So after having my appointment at the job centre to be told I won't get ANYTHING I'm shocked. They said they take my partners earnings into account but after taxes, mortgage, bills and typical outgoings we would be left in the minuses, we calculated it all if I didn't get anything. He's on basic average salary. So my only crime is not being employed for long enough in my current job.
She's gave me a MA1 form to fill in and send off when I'm 26 weeks to see if I can claim anything but she's pretty sure that I won't be able to.
So, does anyone know if I will get anything? It's really starting to stress me out thinking about our financial situation once baby is here.

She didn’t ‘think’ you would get anything?

www.gov.uk/pay-leave-for-parents

Do this official government calculator and know for sure.

Are you sure you aren't applicable for maternity allowance?

Unfortunately I've found in the past that job centre staff can give you wrong information so it is up to you to go online, check yourself what you are allowed and question them.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

Maternity allowance sounds like what you should look into! I missed smp by ONE week but have applied for allowance. It is less than smp though!

If you can’t get MA look for work that doesn’t require childcare like night shift work and doing one long shift a week, which should be the same as SMP. You can also do 9 catchup days at work I think.

I've recently applied for maternity allowance. You definitely don't have to consider your partner's income unless you work for your partner's business.

Check and apply for MA. If you've been working consistently for the last 2 years, you'll likely get it. There used to be a dedicated helpine for Maternity Allowance. Speak to them rather than the job centre, they were really helpful.

Thank you. I have been in work for the past 2 years. I'm confused as to wether I qualify for MA or not, as one of the questions on the calculator was did you work in your current job or most recent job between October 2017 - April 2018. As how they calculate it all you must have to have been working for a certain amount of time or something I'm guessing?
Anyway the answer to that question is yes, I was employed with my last job for 3.5 years but my contract ended may this year. So I started my current job in July but was already pregnant so don't qualify for SMP through my current job. So I'm hoping I qualify for it from working My last job. I didn't tell job centre that. As I was just there because I didn't qualify for SMP with my current job.
I guess I will know once I hear back from them after sending my MA1 form off. As it all goes by payments, if I paid enough into the system on the dates that matter.

Well no the answer is no

Did you work in your current job in that period - No

You current job is from July 2018

Yeah I know I don't qualify for SMP with my current job that I started in July. But with them asking if I was employed in a recent job between October - April yes I was. So I'm hoping that gets me Maternity allowance. As I was paying into the system on those specific dates, just with a different employer. Don't have to be at a current job for a long time to claim Maternity Allowance.
I think maternity allowance and SMP must be 2 completely different things.

The calculator is confusing and I don't think it can handle multiple jobs.

You're right, it sounds like you will qualify for Maternity Allowance based on both your current and previous job.

So long as you meet the criteria for Maternity Allowance that's all that matters, i.e. you can't get SMP and in the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you were
employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks
earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together

It doesn't matter if the 26 weeks are split between different jobs.

Maternity Allowance is basically designed for those in your situation, i.e. those who have been working, but don't qualify for SMP

Well then to that the answer is yes!
As the specific dates they have asked for is October 2017 - April 2018. I was in full time work then just with a different employer.
And to a PP I have never heard of them taking into account partners wage either for SMP. Because if I would have been employed at my current job for long enough I would automatically have got SMP. Unless partners are on mega money, don't know how it works.

Thank you MrsSquiggler I have just counted back 66 weeks from when baby is due and it starts from 1st October 2017. All the points you pointed out my answer is yes to them all.