Am I entitled to SMP if I get pregnant again quickly?

[DeeLite]

I've just returned to work after maternity leave and am wondering whether there's any minimum period that I must work in order to claim SMP on a subsequent maternity leave.

We have no enhanced benefits where I work so it's just SMP and HR's maternity policy is not very clear on this particular point.

Provided you are still with your current employer on the qualifying week (15 weeks before the week in which the baby is due) and your average earnings for the 8 weeks prior to the qualifying week are at least equal to the National Insurance Lower Earnings Limit you will be fine.

If you got pregnant before returning from maternity leave you could have a problem in that you may not meet the earnings rule. However, as you have already returned to work and, presumably, are not yet pregnant you shouldn't have a problem.

Thanks prh47bridge. I don't intend to get pregnant for several months yet but came off the pill to regulate my hormones a couple of weeks ago and felt really nauseous all day today so had a bit of a panic this morning that I might be pregnant.