Difference between SMP/maternity allowance?

[swiftt]

Looking for some help. I am currently full time employed, having some issues at work and considering another job. My current workplace have a crappy maternity policy, it’s just statutory maternity. I’m only 12 weeks pregnant but aware I wouldn’t qualify for SMP in a new job - by time I started etc. Do you automatically qualify for maternity allowance if you haven’t worked somewhere for long enough, or is it based on income? I just need to figure out if I should stick it out with my job for the sake of qualifying for SMP.

This is the eligibility criteria:

In the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you must also have been:

• 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

You may still qualify if you’ve recently stopped working. It does not matter if you had different jobs or periods of unemployment.

You don't get the 6 weeks at 90% wages, its £151.20 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks

I think as long as you have worked for 13 weeks (they don't have to be consecutive) within the 60 (I think it's 60) weeks before your due date. You definitely qualify for Maternity allowance. The amount you will get will depend on your income within these 13 weeks so if you were to leave your old job and get new job that paid more as long as you can provide 13 weeks pay slips that should be fine. Although I was full time employed for my first pregnancy my income monthly was around the same. But this time I was working different shifts each week (HCA on the a bank contract) I can go through my pay slips and pick out the weeks where I have earned the most to get the most out of maternity allowance. Hope that makes sense.

Need to have worked 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before birth

In 13 of those 26 weeks you need to have earned at least £30. You would choose the 13 weeks where you earned the most money to maximise your maternity allowance pay.

Maternity allowance is £151.20 a week for 39 weeks, or 90% of your gross weekly earnings if that amount is less.

Statutory maternity pay is 6 weeks at 90% of your gross weekly earnings, followed by 33 weeks at the same amount as maternity allowance (£151.20/90% if lower).

As long as you earn over £7,860 a year the SMP will be a bit higher than MA, but not hugely. For £25k a year it works out about £1,700 more on SMP than MA.

If you plan to claim or are already claiming universal credit there's no point in applying or getting maternity allowance from government as it is taken pound for pound off your entitlement so smp is miles better for that situation

I agree with @nicciw87 if you would be expecting to receive a top up of UC try to avoid claiming maternity allowance as they’ll just deduct it pound for pound.

I found new job after my old employer (worked for them for few years) breached my medical information and didn’t even apologise. New job started straight after old one ended so no employment gap. But then turned out I was already pregnant at start date. New employer been great and supportive but couldn’t pay me maternity pay so I applied for MA and awarded the maximum £151.20. I was upset about not being able to get x6 wks 90% but thought well better job longterm. We receive UC so thought we’ll won’t be too badly off. But just seen couple days ago they’ve deducted £ for £ and their explanation is it’s unearned income so incompatible with UC.

I’m devastated as feel will have no other choice than to return to work much earlier than originally planned and all because left old job but I had no choice as my mental health was being affected due to their breach and not even caring they had done it. I do prefer new job tho.

I already have 2 children so knew wouldn’t get extra for baby but really wanted a child with my partner as had such awful time with ex and he walked out when our 2nd was 6mth so I really wanted the proper family experience. My partner says we will just make cut backs and get through it but I just feel so annoyed I hadn’t realised this before. Annoying that my tax and NI happily taken but the MA deducted when I need it the most.

If you have been employed for 6 months by the time you have the baby earning over £30 a week would you qualify for SMP? I tried the government website and it said something about ordinary maternity leave. It’s all very confusing.

No, she has to have been employed for 26 weeks by the time she is 25 weeks pregnant to qualify for SMP in a new job

@LemonadeLocomotive the criteria for eligibility for pay is separate and different from maternity leave. Everyone gets leave. Pay is when the qualifying time and being above the minimum NI threshold applies.

Also consider you’ll accrue annual leave from your old job while you are on mat leave

Ah I see thank you

Hello, I’m looking for some advice regarding maternity allowance, I lost my job in January 2020 and have been working a temporary 0 hours job since then, however now the work has completely dried up so I am relying on universal credit who also help me with my rent. I’m 27 weeks pregnant and wondered when do I have to apply for maternity allowance? I know you can apply from 26 weeks but does that mean you have to apply at a certain time? Will I be entitled to the full amount having worked full time up until Jan 20? And also will I still be entitled to the sure start grant if I claim MA? Sorry for all the questions I’m a FTM and have never claimed anything until this year and I’m panicking. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.