Maternity Pay

[sarahelizabeth99]

Hi everyone.

Posting as I’m having a bit of a nightmare regarding my maternity pay. For context, my work situation is a little unusual. I have just completed my probationary year as a teacher. For this I was on a fixed-term contract which ended at the end of June, and baby is due in 6 weeks from now. I handed in my statutory maternity pay form back in May. Work only got back to me last week to say they wouldn’t be paying my maternity pay as I no longer work for them. I then asked them to send me the necessary forms so that I could apply for the government maternity allowance instead. I’ve been passed from person to person and no one seems to have an idea about this. Someone today emailed me back and said they haven’t processed my maternity application yet and would get back to me to let me know how much I am entitled to, and someone else from a different department emailed me something completely different.

I am just posting this to ask if anyone has any advice on how I can speed the process along so that I can start maternity allowance application, or if anyone has been in a similar situation. It’s stressing me out at this point as my final pay will be next month and then I have no idea how much my maternity pay will be, so we can’t plan ahead in terms of budgeting and we don’t have much saved, and DP is not on a big income at the moment.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim

This link details what you need go do to claim. It has links to things you need to fill in.

There doesn't seem to be much needed from your previous employer aside from payslips and maybe a P45. You will have had your P60?

You can make the claim online now.

If you were employed at week 25 of pregnancy and had been there for 26 weeks by then then they should still be paying SMP.

You will qualify forStatutory Maternity Payas long as you meet the continuous service and pay requirements: You need to have been working for this same employer for 26 weeks leading up to the 15thweek before the baby is due.

If you started work for the company before you were pregnant, and continue until you at least reach the 15th week before the week the baby is due you will meet this requirement.

If you meet this length of service criteria, then as your contract is due to end after the 15th week before the week the baby is due, youwillbe entitled to SMP.

www.workingmums.co.uk/maternity-rights-fixed-term-contracts/ - from here

If yout don't meet the requirements then they need to give you a SMP1 form I think

Fellow teacher. If you’ve been there since September last year then I believe you are entitled to SMP as you’d meet the conditions for it. Please contact your union and they will support you to ensure you get the SMP you’re entitled too xx

They need to pay you as it seems you were there for the qualifying period.
Ask them to put in writing that they are not paying you and why they think that is the case and pass onto your union so they can support you properly.
Good luck with rest of your pregnancy x

Thanks folks! Yes I do seem to be entitled to it, I have been working there since August last year (Scottish holidays) and fell pregnant in January. I’ve emailed the union so hopefully they can speed things along - council are useless!