Ssp and childcare costs+preggo+redundancy!help!

[Julesgjones]

Hi
I wonder if anyone could give me some advice
I am currently off sick with pregnancy related illness and now receiving ssp,I am unable to look after my toddler who goes to a v expensive nursery.we get some help towards childcare coats from the government but now that I'm not being paid its not enough to cover his costs would I get more contributions towards this of they knew I was I only receiving ssp? Also if I am unable to return to work will I get my maternity pay and annual leave entitlement . We are getting made redundant in a few weeks,hoping I am 25 weeks before this but if I'm not how can I calculate what my government mat pay would be or would I be entitled to it with being off sick,also are there any benefits to help those who've been made redundant ? I am having so much stress over not knowing about all these things please help me!

I'm not sure the government help pay for childcare for people who are ill off work tbh, but have a look at entitledto website in case. How bad is your illness, really that bad that you can't look after your child?

You'll get your annual leave entitlement for as long as you are employed, so as long as you don't resign, the fact that you are off sick during your pregnancy will make no difference.

In terms of your maternity pay, if you are entitled to more than statutory, then your employer sets the rules about that, so read your maternity policy to check.

For statutory maternity pay, it's all based around whether you've been employed with the same employer for 26 weeks by 15 weeks before your due date, and on your average earnings in the weeks 17 - 25 of your pregnancy.

Assuming you meet the length of service criteria, the problem will be if you are/have been off sick during weeks 17-25, you will probably not have been earning enough to entitle you to SMP.

If you don't get SMP, you will probably get Maternity Allowance, which isn't from your employer, it's from the government, and is similar to SMP, but on basic weekly rate throughout, ie without the first 6 weeks at 90% of salary.

Sorry, just seen you will be redundant in a few weeks. You'll be entitled to holiday accrued up to and including your last day of employment.

Sounds like you won't get SMP but you will probably get Maternity Allowance as I said.

In terms of benefits for being made redundant, you'll be entitled to JSA I expect, if you're seeking work, but don't know what else. I know about employment issues but not about benefits, but entitledto should help you I think.

While you are on SSP: you may be able to continue to claim however you should contact tax credits helpline to inform them; if you are off for more than 28 weeks sick they will probably be stopped here

When you are made redundant: Your working tax credit will stop here

Do you have a partner as their income will be taken into account? If you are no longer earning you will probably get higher levels of tax credits but no childcare element, so it's swings and roundabouts really.