Maternity allowance v SMP (nhs)

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Not a situation we thought we would be in as planned this baby and saved and saved.

Found out from work today that I can’t get SMP due to changing jobs (nhs) but they count my continuous service so I get nhs maternity pay. Means a drop of 151x39 weeks.

They told me to speak to my old employer (as I’ve stayed on their bank) and in the qualifying period I earned just over £1000. It covers 8 weeks. Dividing that by 8 means I qualify for SMP by them (by the skin of my teeth) but hmrc seems to multiply it out to a yearly pay (x6 then divide by 12) which leaves me £4 a week short of qualifying....

They’ve said I can look at maternity allowance which I should qualify for as I’ve worked continually for 10.5 years since graduating but I could be rejected as they think my employer should cover.

Has anyone been in this situation? I don’t want to start maternity leave with nothing done about pay! I’m so confused as all the policies say about eligibility for occupational mat pay and service being counted continually yet somehow for SMP they’re not a national employer?

Have also spoken to union for help but input appreciated!

OP, I'm wondering whether this is because you are bank staff?

Sorry OP I misunderstood, you qualify for OMP but not the SMP allowance. You should be ok as previous posters have highlighted as you will qualify for MA. Please disregard my previous posts and good luck

Thanks @feistymumma. Have the evidence ready to send maternity allowance tomorrow. It’s taken forever to get the smp1 from all 3 employers to say I don’t qualify to be able to claim MA. Hope they process it before baby is here...or that they don’t make me lose out! 9.5 weeks to go!

Hi, hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread as I'm in a similar situation and wondered how your situation had turned out? Could anyone clarify my points below?
I was on mat leave with one NHS trust until 1st Sept 2021 when my fixed term contract ended. I was only made aware my contract wasn't being renewed a month before I was due to return, so had the panic of then looking for a new role. I managed to find one not long after in the NHS however due to slow recruitment/occy health checks I didn't actually start with them until 1st Nov 21, meaning i have now had a 2 month gap in my NHS service - i have worked for them for 10+ years plus :( anyway i am now pregnant again with baby number 3 - 14weeks. I am trying to get my head around the policy and speak to someone in HR but this is proving impossible. I believe i will be entitled to OMP as i have 12months continuous service (luckily they disregard any gap 3 months or under) but dont think i qualify for SMP.
Does this mean i can claim mat allowance? Am i going to be much worse off or is it pretty similar? our policy is the standard 8 weeks full, 18 weeks half + smp, 13 weeks smp only.
so where it states smp will i just get the MA instead?
hope someone can help thanks

If the trusts are separate 'companies'; then surely you get two lots of SMP?

No i dont think so as the policy states:
An employee is entitled to 39 weeks SMP provided that:
they have been continuously employed for a minimum of 26 weeks at the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

I've worked out i will only have been continuously employed for 20weeks by the 15th week before ewc.