Maternity allowance

[B0bb]

Hi all,

I don't know if I should post this here but I'm hoping someone can shed some light if any?

So I'm only eligible for maternity allowance which is fine, but how much do you get roughly a month? I know online it says £148.68 per week or 90% of my average gross weekly earnings..

So roughly will start off at £600 a month or will be 90% of my earnings?

Thanks

Whichever is lower.

So If 90% of your earnings is less than £148 p/w you will get that. If you earn more, you will get the £148.

It’s 90% of your weekly earnings up to £148.68.

Ahh I get you... so looks like I will be on the £148 then because I earn more

But I don’t think you get the money for the full 52 weeks.

Is that the same as statuary maternity pay? Because I understood it to be different.

I thought it was 90% of your earnings for the 1st 6 weeks, THEN down to £148 per week for the remainder of the 9 months. Then nothing for the last 3 months, if you choose to stay off work until then.

It’s for 39 weeks .

@HamCheeseHamnCheese no it's different to statutory MP, it's for self employed people and based on your previous x number of weeks earnings

I'm not self employed I just haven't worked for the company long enough so I've got to have maternity allowance instead.

I just didn't understand it because I've never had it before

To my knowledge, ma is when you've worked at least 13 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to your due date and earned at least £30 a week...

I'm going to see CAB about it today, so I'll let you know OP!

@Parent19876 oh ok thanks.

I did a self assessment on the gov site and it said I was eligible for maternity allowance... not smp, which I knew because I switched jobs end of jan beginning of feb. So I'm just going with that?

I changed jobs at 6 weeks pg so was only entitled to maternity allowance.

@Seaseasea that will be the same as me apart from I was 12-13 weeks but the new company knew at 8 weeks

I'm panicking about this. I've just found out I'm being made redundant (our company has been sold so we all are)
I'm currently 7 weeks with twins!
I can only leave at the end of May to ensure I get my redundancy...so then I will be starting a new job at 14 weeks. I will probably be showing.
What if no one employs me?
Or if they do I then have to tell them I'm pregnant...and because it's twins I will probably have them at the end of Oct. so I will only work there for 6 months before leaving aargh.

Maternity allowance is so much lower than my wage I'm used to. How do people cope??

@sarahthewiganer it will work out stay positive.

Now is the time to start budgeting. I was told this yesterday and cut some bills if you can. But in bulk the baby bits so it saves you spending when they arrive.

SMP is 6 weeks at 90% of your earnings and then it drops down to £148 for the next 33 weeks (or 90% of your earnings which ever is lower)

Maternity allowance is 39 weeks at £148 (or 90% of your earnings which ever is lower)

With both you get 39 weeks of pay.
SMP will come via your company as a "salary" and Maternity Allowance has to be claimed directly from the government.

If you earn above £148 a week then essentially Maternity Allowance means you lose those first 6 weeks at a better salary compared to SMP.

Maternity allowance is 39 weeks at £148 (or 90% of your earnings which ever is lower)
Unless you are self employed and payed class 2 NI in which case it doesn’t matter your ratings or even if you make a loss you will still receive £148 for 39 weeks.

Earnings not ratings!