Maternity Pay

[LouiseSmiley17]

Hi! I'm not sure if any body can help me.
I was due to be paid my first month of maternity pay and I haven't received it! I can't do surging about this as it's the weekend so have to wait until Monday!
So my mind is now in overdrive worrying that I'm not eligible!

The only reason I can think of is because I changed job role (with the same employer) I went from working as a carer to working on the reception.

Does anybody know if this would affect my eligibility?

Thank you in advance

I thought you just had to be with the same employer for the qualifying period rather than in the same role, but I'm certainly not an expert. I'd have thought if you weren't entitled though they would have told you - you should have received a letter/something in writing about the leave and pay you'd receive I think? Hope you get it sorted quickly!

I think it's 26 weeks with the same employer. Did you hand in your MatB1 form to them? - that's the government smp form.

If you are not eligible for smp then yes they have to give you a letter explaining why so you can e.g claim maternity allowance. Provided you gave in your matb1 form on time and you met the weekly earnings in the required weeks before leave and total time employed criteria (they wont pay if you notify late or didn't meet the minimum criteria but must still give you the letter) then it sounds like a mistake. Hope you get it sorted v.quickly.

Thank you for the replies everyone.
I handed in my MATB1 form a couple of months before my due date and it was sent off and I'm on the system as Maternity Leave.

However my company isn't very good as recently another girl left on maternity leave and she handed her MATB1 form in but it turned out she hadn't met the criteria of the 26 weeks with the company. But they didn't inform her of that until she called to find out why she hadn't been paid!

They said it isn't their duty to tell you, you have to call them to find out

I'm really hoping it's just a mistake, but I've got myself all worried. I can't imagine leaving my baby boy yet and I worked so hard and stayed until I was 8.5 months pregnant x

It’s a Sunday so you’ll probably get it in your bank on Monday??

I always get paid on a Saturday

Also all of the wage slips have been sent down from head office and there wasn't one for me

They have to tell you what your entitlement is and explain and give you a form if you are not eligible. See this page, section on Statutory Maternity Pay

Have they sorted this out for you yet? Can’t believe they reckon it’s not their duty to tell you if you’re eligible!

Hi! It is all sorted now. Turns out Head Office just forgot to pay me!
So I am entitled to maternity.
And when admin questioned Head Office they asked if I would be willing to wait until the following month and then receive 8 weeks pay! Erm no thank you!!
So the money was in my account by Tuesday morning.
Thank you for all the help everyone.
Seems I had a stressed weekend for no reason! x