maternity allowance & redundancy help?

[rhubarbp2]

Any HR bods who can help me?

I've been made redundant (legitimately) at 20 weeks pregnant and found another job I can start in 2 weeks.

The problem is that my old employer will not pay me under their maternity scheme and neither will my new employer as they will not have employed me for very long when I go on maternity leave.

Since I am not entitled to SMP, can I qualify for maternity allowance? Is there an earnings limit? My new salary is OK, but 6 months with no income would be very tough?

You might do. I think you have to have worked 26 weeks in the last 60 and choose the 13 most lucrative ones (not necessarily in a block) to see if you qualify. I might be slightly out on the figures but it's worth finding out more.

this site tells you all about qualifying conditions for MA, I think you should qualify

thanks for your help - are you aware whether there is any upper limit to the money I have earned in that time which may make me ineligible?

I don't believe that there is an upper limit on earnings, rather there is a lower limit (average of £30 per week). So long as you have the eligible employment service you should be entitled to MA.