Leaving work before the 11th week

[KateGC]

Does anyone know if I will be intitled to MA if I leave my job before the 11th week before my due date?

I have only been in my job for 4 months and I was already looking for a new job when I found out I was pregnant as my boss is a nightmare. It is also an hour a half commute each way and doing that with morning sickness and feeling so tired all the time is doing my head in. Feeling really stressed about it and just want to hand in my notice and get temporary work closer to home. I know this will mean that I won't get maternity pay from my current job, but will I get any Maternity Allowance?

KateGC

You should get maternity allowance as long as you have been employed somewhere for 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks leading up to your due date (the 66 weeks is the 40 weeks of your pregnancy plus 6 months before).

You say you have been at your current job 4 months, so as long as you have either worked another 2 months before your current job, or you work 2 months after you leave, you should be fine. Hope that makes sense!

Have you asked your current job whether you can work reduced hours or alter your working times so you are not commuting in rush hour, or work more from home? Not sure if any of this would be possible for you, or if you would want to, but if you are planning to leave anyway, you don't have anything to lose by asking, if that would make things easier.

Can you not put up with boss for a little longer? Or maybe ask GP to sign you off? I know its hard, but better to not have stress of money when you have LO to look after. You can take materity leave any time from 29 weeks. How far are you?
L

Thanks for your advice guys good news about the MA if I can't stick the boss a moment longer.