NHS: maternity pay question

[LifeWithoutSleep]

Hi,

I hope someone can shed some light on the following. If I am entitled to OMP but not SMP and I am applying for maternity allowance would I still be entitled to maternity allowance despite me getting OMP?

Anyone who can help?

Thanks

I am not sure if it works the same for all trusts but as I understood it the trust either claims back the SMP and Maternity allowance from the government or they claim it for you and then make up the amount to the OMP. So you cannot claim one on top of the other. OMP should always leave you better off than either of the other two if I am correct.

As if you were claiming both there would be a period of time where you'd be actually getting paid more than your normal wage?

You may be able to claim maternity allowance from jobcentreplus (depending on eligibility) - your employer should give you an SMP1 form. You can claim this at the same time as receiving OMP but your employer should then deduct 8 weeks maternity allowance from your OMP as that payment is 8 weeks full pay/18 weeks half pay and you wouldn't be able to receive full pay plus maternity allowance at the same time. Once you're on half pay, you can receive both.