Changing jobs while pregnant. Can I still get statutory maternity pay?

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Hello mumsnetters, I started a new job about six months ago but it's not what I thought it would be and I'm looking to move to a new job.

However, I'm also about to start fertility treatment so wanted to check if you can still get statutory maternity pay if you start a new job while pregnant (or get pregnant just after you move)?

The info online about this is a bit confusing - you need to start 15 weeks before your due date and 26 weeks in...? I've been trying to calculate 15 weeks back from a potential due date which I think means you need to join a month before you get pregnant? All a bit confusing, so any advice would be really welcome!

I'm 40, so not keen on delaying trying for a baby. But on the other hand, I'm aware that if I stay in my current role, that would tie me in to the role for the next nine months and the next year during maternity leave - and possibly a few months after I return to work again... So in theory it's best to jump now... but I'm not sure if I'd get stat maternity pay if I switch jobs. I'd be a single mum by choice, so wouldn't be able to do it without unfortunately.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

No, you need to not be pregnant before starting a job to get Statutory Maternity Pay - by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant you need to have been working for 26 weeks.

You could claim Maternity Allowance if you dont qualify for SMP

A lot of workplaces wont give maternity pay either if you havent worked there for x amount of time which id worth bearing in mond/researching their policy.

That's only if they are offering enhanced pay. Statutory is as I said above

Hello, thank you for getting back to me on this and sorry for taking a while to reply! That's helped to clarify it. So to get statutory maternity pay, you only have to have worked somewhere for a week, technically, in order to qualify for SMP. That gives me a few more options in terms of being able to wait until the end of the year in my current role and to start a new role in the new year and hopefully start trying shortly afterwards... Yes that doesn't feel a bit cheeky but it would be good to be safely in the position I'd like to return to before going off on maternity leave...

I mean it does feel a bit cheeky...

So to get statutory maternity pay, you only have to have worked somewhere for a week,

Not quite. You need to have been employed for a week before you got pregnant.

I like to think I treat my staff (even hate calling people staff) really well and as fair as I can but I'd be mightily pee'd off if a new starter left on maternity leave so early on. It's the sort of move that makes some employers think twice about employing women at a certain stage in their life, especially if it's a small company/family business.

Well tough titties mrfartpants we have laws to protect pregnant employees from people like you!