Maternity Leave.

[Penguin52]

Hi 👋🏼

recently found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. I am currently in the middle of buying a house in a new town which we are moving to. I currently work full time and don’t drive so will have to move jobs when we move house. I am so confused about maternity leave. The house is due to complete in around 3 months. I would be looking to start a new job in 3 months.

what maternity pay/leave would I be entitled to? My partner works full time and will continue to do so.

thank you

If you have a new job you won't qualify for statutory maternity pay. You could apply for Maternity Allowance which is the same as SMP except you wouldn't get the first 6 weeks at 90% of salary.

P.s. you will be eligible for maternity leave no matter how long you are in the new job; it's just the SMP you wouldn't qualify for.

Is your dp also moving jobs? Is it not possible to commute to the current job from the new house just for the short term, then when you start mat leave, do it with the intention of not going back?

So it’s around a 40 minute drive and there’s no direct transport links. If I had to commute, my partner would have to take me and bring me home each morning and evening. Thank you

I'd definitely look at remaining in your current job despite the challenges of commuting so that you get your maternity leave

This. Even if you start your mat leave earlier than you would wish to.

What about the indirect transport routes or any colleagues who live nearer your new place who may lift share?

If you continue in your current job until you are 25 weeks pregnant then you would qualify for SMP even if you left after that.

Also I don't know if it's something you could consider but doing one of those intensive one week driving courses to get your licence? You may find you want the freedom of being able to drive when little one arrives?

It's worth doing this to secure mat pay

Will you be working during your qualifying period? Have you declared to your mortgage company that you intend to leave your job and get a part time one?

Could he drive you to somewhere with a direct transport link that's also on his way to work?

First of all, you've got the right to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave in both situations (old or new job).

What will be different is the maternity pay during your leave.
If you start a new job whilst being already 3 months' pregnant, you won't qualify for anything more than maternity allowance.
You have to compare what you will get if you stay in your current job to maternity allowance.
Staying at your current job will not only give you Statutory Maternity Pay, but you might also get an occupational maternity pay, depends on the policy of each employer, some are great, some are not much more than SMP.

If your current job doesn't not offer great occupational maternity pay (or you haven't been there long enough to qualify for it), then you just have to compare the Statutory pay with the maternity allowance.

https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/what-youll-get

And this comparison depends on your salary.
How much higher is 90% of your weekly salary from £172.48?

For example, if you're paid £2000/month, 90% of that is £1800/month and therefore (£1800 * 12)/52= £415 per week.

(Now I'm not 100% sure about whether you take net or gross income for this calculation, maybe do it for both and see the difference but note that you won't have to pay tax when in maternity, as you'll be below the taxable income)

If you stay in your current job , you'll get SMP, and therefore £415 for the first 6 weeks and then £172 for the remaining 33 weeks.

If you go to the new job, you'll get maternity allowance, which is £172 for the first 6 weeks and again £172 for the remaining 33 weeks.

So all that you gain is 6 * (£415-172)= £1458, which is not nothing, but I think commuting 1h20 every day for ~5 months you'll probably spend most of that on fuel/fares and the tiredness in pregnancy is a real thing...

If you get paid much more than that (and maybe you can work from home some days), then it's a different story. Do the calculations and see what's best for you.

I changed jobs at 3 months pregnant, I've lost quite a bit of money on maternity pay but the new job is not only closer, but a job I like much more as well (and I'll be looking forward to return to after the maternity leave).

is it really bad to have luncheon meat? Or ham? I have been CRAVING ham all day, like to the point it’s all I can think about and online it says to avoid. The thought of that is making me want to cry 😢

Nhs doesn't say to avoid either of them. Where are you reading that they aren't allowed?