SMP/MA?

[HopefulFor2020]

Not sure if this is the best place or if it should go in employment.

Currently 18 weeks and signed off work sick for the last 2 weeks and looks like it could be ongoing. I'll only be getting SSP while I'm off sick so does this mean I won't be entitled to SMP as I'm not earning enough? And if so will I be able to claim Maternity Allowance?

I only work part time and get some UC so not sure if this will cover the shortfall if I'm not entitled to either? I've been trying to do a calculation to see if this is the case but keep getting conflicting results.

Being signed off sick with stress and high blood pressure and trying to work this out is not fun! No point in me asking work as they're are utterly useless at anything like this (no hr and everyone just winging it!)

SMP is calculated from weeks 17-25 of pregnancy so if you are on SSP you may not meet the earnings required. You can claim Maternity allowance instead which you should qualify for.

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility send the payslips in which you got your highest wages

Ah damn it, that's what I thought. Really could do without having to do that.

Thank you

Yeh if u are off sick week 18-25 then you have to claim maternity allowance as on average you have to earn £118 a week between week 18-25 which is £944 between 16th November and 11th January based on your dates. Only way I can think of you working round this is if you are owed any holidays from this year of so will your company let you take them soon to bump up pay to qualify for SMP?

@nicciw87 I did wonder about bumping it up with annual leave. I've got a few days booked in over the next few weeks but I don't think it's enough to boost my pay enough to get SMP. It'll probably work out better for me to save them and start mat leave a bit earlier than planned