Can I claim maternity allowance if I’m bank staff? Stressing out, need help.

[Tauru1997]

I’m currently 16 weeks pregnant. I have been reading all sorts on the internet saying if you’re bank staff you’re no longer an employee.

I have been working as a carer since October 2020 and transitioned to bank staff in August 2021, according to MA, you have to be an employee (in my case since the 25th July 2021) but I’ve been bank staff pretty much since then. I’m panicking because I don’t know what to do. I’m going to the job centre next week and letting them know I’m bank staff but if anyone could tell me now, that would be amazing as I don’t want to lose sleep and don’t want to be stressing 24/7 especially because I’m pregnant.

Thank you 😊

When you say bank, are you employed by someone or do you work for an agency.

Could you clarify what bank staff is?
I've tried to Google, but couldn't quite understand.

When you get paid, do you get a payslip?
Do you know if they deduct tax/NI?
Did you sign a contract?

Sorry for the questions, justctrying to understand what your emolyment starus is.

that being said MA is paid to both employed and self employed people

Thank you for getting back, I’m employed by a company :)

@BlanketsBanned Thank you for getting back I’m employed by a company :)

@minou123 bank staff is when you are able to work on your own terms, for example I work one day a week and I get to choose what that day is.

1. I do get a payslip
2. I don’t believe they deduct any tax from my pay as I don’t get paid that much a week (though I read on the eligibility for MA that you have to earn at least £30 which I do)
3. I remember signing one at the beginning but that is when I wasn’t bank staff

no worries, thank you for getting back!

@minou123 also just to clarify I transitioned to bank staff within in the same company I was already working for. Didn’t state in post so may have caused some confusion!

I was able to claim SMP when working bank only for the NHS, consistently on the same ward. I would think MA should be no problem.

@HappyAndDevoted oh good! I appreciate that, thank you for getting back to me, think I’ll have a word with the manager too to see what I’m entitled to!

Thanks Tauru1997

That makes sense 😁

There are 2 types of maternity money. One is called Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and the other is Maternity Allowance (MA)
I think some people get these confused or think they are the same thing.

The rules to qualify for SMP is different to MA.

The biggest difference is, generally, you get more money on SMP then MA.
But, I think people get them confused and sometimes think thet are the same thing.

It may be you do not qualify for SMP, but you will for MA. Based on what you are saying, I don't think there should be a problem for MA.

But as HappyAndDevoted there shouldn't be a problem for SMP.

I know its easy for me to say, but please don't worry.

You may not qualify for SMP if you are a low earner (there is a qualifying amount, like for sick pay). Your employer will tell you if this is the case when you notify them that you are pregnant etc. You would then apply for Maternity Allowance. They look at your earnings over a set period (based on your dates) and you submit some payslips to them - I think 4 or 6. They then calculate how much you are entitled too. It doesn't matter if you are bank staff or whatever as long as you have proof of earnings. Choose your highest earning payslips - they don't have to be consecutive. They also take into account self employed earnings too but again you will need proof.

With mine they wouldn’t confirm the SMP until I was nearly due. It’s complex and managers may not know all the details, but payroll/HR should. You could call MaternityAction for advice or ask your union if you have one. The safest thing is to ensure you work every single week, in the same location if possible then it’s hard for them to deny you are employed.

Sorry the every week thing is if you earn enough to potentially get SMP and are paid weekly. For MA I don’t think you would need to do that as it doesn’t have the requirement about being continuously employed.

Thank you so much for your advice! I’m prepared not to be paid for SMP as I do little hours a week and do not get paid £123 weekly, I believe that’s the minimum amount to qualify for SMP. I’m just happy I at least get some sort of income. I’m a lot less stressed now, you guys have been amazing!☺️

Thank you for your response. I believe I won’t qualify for SMP, I’m already prepared for that, I used to earn above the minimum amount weekly to qualify for it though but since I told the company about my pregnancy, I feel as if they’ve sneakily reduced my hours, which in a way works out for me as it’s home care and extremely fast paced and demanding and I’m suffering from fatigue and exhaustion. But it’s my first pregnancy so will learn from my mistakes! Thank you for your advice, it’s much appreciated ☺️

@minou123 Thank you so much for your advice! I’m prepared not to be paid for SMP as I do little hours a week and do not get paid £123 weekly, I believe that’s the minimum amount to qualify for SMP. I’m just happy I at least get some sort of income. I’m a lot less stressed now, you guys have been amazing!☺️

@catsnore Thank you for your response. I believe I won’t qualify for SMP, I’m already prepared for that, I used to earn above the minimum amount weekly to qualify for it though but since I told the company about my pregnancy, I feel as if they’ve sneakily reduced my hours, which in a way works out for me as it’s home care and extremely fast paced and demanding and I’m suffering from fatigue and exhaustion. But it’s my first pregnancy so will learn from my mistakes! Thank you for your advice, it’s much appreciated ☺️

@HappyAndDevoted thank you ☺️ I’ve emailed manager and asked her if I’m entitled to SMP think the answer will definitely be no as I don’t qualify for it due to my weekly pay, but it gives me the option to give her a SMP not entitled form which I will have to hand with my maternity allowance claim form to prove I’m not eligible for SMP.

So my new plan is to: get MATB1 from midwife, print off SMP not entitled form and give in maternity leave notice to my employer at the same time, as the SMP form and maternity leave notice both require the MATB1 form and then send the SMP form and MATB1 form with my maternity allowance claim form.

Sorry for all the details I just know a lot of girls may be in the same boat one day and hopefully my comment can help guide them in some way.

The commenters have been great with advice, thank you so much 😊!