Just had a bit of a shock, been told that I'm going to be made redundant in the next few months as company being forced to downsize massively. Smallish company in the arts and we haven't been making any money recently so no great surprise, but I've been working there for 7 years and am very much integral so still feels a bit of a blow. Main issue is that I can't get another job pre baby and although don't know what they're offering me yet, think they are planning to sever the ties before I go on Mat leave in 3 months. If they do, and I get statutory redundancy pay, can I then get Maternity Allowance as an unemployed person? They want me to come back freelance after maternity leave and if that actually happens (would require an upturn in their fortunes) it might work out quite well but I'm feeling pretty nervous at the moment as this industry is a nightmare to get part time work in with kids in tow, and a nightmare to get back into after you've been out of it for a while.