New job - just found out I’m pregnant

[Yellowdaff25]

hi all,

I recently accepted a new job (have been working in current job for 10 years) and am due to start in a few weeks but I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and I’m so very anxious about what to do.

I wouldn’t want to tell the new employer until 12 weeks as I know so much can go wrong in the early days and I know I won’t qualify for SMP. Would I qualify for Maternity Allowance instead? And is that roughly the same payment amount?

Honestly I am so stressed my head is a mess😩😩

SMP is what everyone is entitled to no matter how long you have been with an employer. What you probably won’t be entitled to is the companies maternity benefits. If they have some. You will also likely be on a probation period for 6 months, at which point they would know you’re pregnant and choose not to keep you on and make another reason as to why.
before you commit to leaving your current job you should probably discuss with the new employer to see where you stand

Have you already handed your notice in? If not, I would stick where you are.

You would qualify for Maternity Allowance, OP.

Have you already resigned from your current role?

Yes I have resigned from my current role and currently working my notice period😩

This is completely incorrect. You are entitled to maternity leave, you have to have been employed by that employer for 26 weeks when you’re 25 weeks pregnant to qualify for maternity pay. Basically start week before conception roughly. You would qualify for maternity allowance which is the same rate as statutory maternity pay but you don’t benefit from the 6 weeks at 90% and you have to claim from DWP it’s not paid by payroll.

Don’t panic, it will work out. It’s difficult to navigate switching jobs anyway and unplanned things can happen. You’ll be okay.

What’s the new company like, culture and size-wise?

This happened to me as well.
I started my new job in September 2022 and had my baby in May 2023. I didn’t qualify for SMP as I hadn’t been employed long enough but I got maternity allowance no problem at all!

I didn’t tell my new work for ages because I was so worried what they’d think, but they were just genuinely delighted for me!

Don't worry. You'll get maternity allowance and hopefully the new job is better paid and you can stick some savings away. Remember you also get child benefit which helps.

As for what they'll think, these things happen! We don't have a magical way of knowing when we're likely to conceive. It's the same way they might employ someone who gets in an accident etc.

I was made redundant at 7 weeks and qualify for maternity allowance. I believe SMP is a bit more generous in the first 6 weeks but after that maternity allowance and SMP are similar.
I think the biggest difference is you have to claim for maternity allowance where as SMP the employer claims. My midwife told me that once I get my mat1b form at 25 weeks I can submit the claim and citizens advice can usually help if you get stuck.

I work in HR, this is not correct at all! There are rules about who does and doesn't qualify for SMP. Basically as long as you've got a month or two's service then you would be fine to get SMP but if you've just started a job it will be Maternity allowance. Maternity allowance is pretty much the same as SMP however with SMP you get 90% of your normal pay for the first six weeks of leave and with maternity allowance you don't.