SMP lump sum and redundancy

[AmyRB]

So I am being made redundant and been informed the company are going to pay my smp in one lump sum and tax and Ni it in my last pay in December. Will I be able to claim benefits for extra help as I will be unemployed? Really worried as £5000 over 39weeks isn't a lot of money to live of. Anyone been in a similar or same situation??

I was in a similar position. Took voluntary redundancy when I was 7 months pregnant. I got a fairly big payout from my employer, although they didn't pay me maternity pay, but I was able to claim maternity allowance from when my son arrived (or slightly before, can't remember). I went and signed on from when I was 7 months pregnant up until I got my maternity allowance. I got JSA, but only for a month or so because the maternity allowance kicked in. I also claimed working tax credits until I started working again.