Maternity pay?

[SunnySide1992]

Hey everyone. So im currently looking for a new job as mine is stressing me out too much! Im confused on how to qualify for maternity pay from the goverment. Do you have to be working for the same company for atlesst 26 weeks before your due date or just working in general?

I'm a bit rusty but if memory serves me right you have to have been working there for 26 weeks 15 weeks before your due date. Basically, it means you're ok if you become pregnant after starting your new job.

If you are pregnant before you start your new job you may still be eligible for maternity allowance but this is only paid at lower rate SMP.

There will be different rules for enhanced maternity pay that will be at the discretion of the company you work for. Some companies only offer enhanced (extra non-statutory pay) after one or two years employment.

I looked at changing jobs and decided financially it wasn't worth it for me. You have to be employed by the same company for 26 weeks until 15 weeks before your due date so effectively you have to have been employed by them at least 1 week before you were pregnant. If you don't meet that so if you change job now and you're already pregnant you would get Maternity Allowance from the government instead which is just under £140 a week for 39 weeks. Hope that makes sense x

I think for SMP you just need to be working. Check the gov.uk website.

For SMP you need to be working for the same company before getting pregnant. For Maternity allowance, you just need to be working (and earning a minimum amount).

The difference between the two is basically SMP has 6 weeks at 90% salary then 33 weeks at SMP amount (about £150 a week), whereas MA is the same 39 weeks all at SMP amount. If I was really unhappy at work and you can afford to take the hit, the difference is MA is about £2,200 less than SMP if you earn £30k a year.

Okay thanks everyone, i knew i wouldnt get smp. So just to clarify if i changed jobs soon (due date 1st december) i would still get pay from the goverment?

Or not?

So just to add to confusion....this is on the gov website
Did the mother work (or will she have worked) for at least 26 weeks in this job between 23 August 2020 and 27 November 2021?
I might be going back to my old job in which case i would of worked from 23 august 2020 to feb 2021 and then if i go back obvs more. So would that qualify?

OP I don't understand your question - either you will have worked 26 weeks in that period or not

Not sure I understand your last post. You need to be employed BY THE SAME EMPLOYER continuously for the 26 weeks. It can be a different job eg you could be promoted.

This is because the EMPLOYER pays SMP. Not the government. Common misconception there.

If you don't qualify for SMP, the government pays you MA (Maternity Allowance) but it is A LOT LESS MONEY.

Hi OP, even though it's your old employer you won't have continuity of service, you'll be "new" as far as the calculation goes, new staff number etc. It would be treated the same as if you switched to a completely different third employer.

Sorry i made that sound very confusing. Im basically on the gov calculator and it asks if ive been employed for atleast 26 weeks and it says 'The 26 weeks don’t need to be in a row. They can be full or part weeks'

So if i went back to my old job after having a 3 month gap with my new job would that count? I know i wont get smp but im really worried i wont even get allowance from the goverment?

It would still count, but as a new employer. You would be on a new contract of employment so it would be the same as if you switched to a third employer.

As long as you have 26 weeks of employment that earn over the threshold amount (I think it's £120/week) You'd be entitled to full maternity allowance, 39 weeks at £151.97 and 13 weeks unpaid. If you don't earn that much then you'd get maternity allowance but at a lower rate.