Can I get maternity leave?

[WhatMiss]

I have been working for a PRU for nearly 3 years. No contract, no fixed hours. Approx 6-8 hours a week. (I have a pre-schooler.) I submit a ‘supply time sheet’ directly to the school and I’m paid by the school (as in, they are listed as my employer on my payslips).

I am 20 weeks pregnant and had assumed I wouldn’t get a penny maternity leave, but when I saw my MW today she seemed to think I should?

MW suggested I might get Maternity Allowance instead? But I’m not self-employed (am I?)

Does anyone know where I stand? In the new year I will try to ring around and find out but (a) I haven’t told school yet (b) Most places are winding down for Christmas!

Thanks for anyone with any answers!

Sorry, when I say ‘maternity leave’, I guess what I actually mean is ‘maternity pay’. I know they are under no obligation to keep any job open for me, but I would like to know if I’ll get any pay!

Do you earn over £113 a week?

If you have been continuously employed and meet the minimum pay threshold you would get smp, otherwise ma.

Pay is completely varied - on a good month I earn about £600+ a month, but obviously no pay during holidays...

Maternity Allowance isn't just for self employed people - it's for people who don't qualify for SMP for a variety of reasons. There are qualifying periods for MA though. Check out gov.uk www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay

Thank you. Sounds like I might qualify for MA then. That would be amazing

I think the threshold is based on an average week's earnings within a specific qualifying time period around the 4-5 month mark. It should be on that link.

I have a look through it. Would it be worth me working as much as possible over the next month or two then to bulk up my average hours? Is that right, do you think? Thank you!

Possibly but iirc the smp calculation is based upon pay received from about 18-24 weeks, so you may not make much difference now.