Maternity advice needed

[maternityadviceneeded]

Really need some advice here and guidance in what to do next ...

I am currently on maternity leave due back May... (but the paid 39 weeks end in jan so I would be going back in feb) and I have just discovered I am 2 weeks pregnant again after the pill has failed me!! I am so shocked, how will maternity leave work now? Will I be entitled to get paid for a second maternity leave? Even if I’m still technically employed full time there? Or will I get any sort of allowance? I have no idea what to do!!

The second maternity will be treated as a separate leave to the one you are on. If you qualified for SMP this time, you will again for the next leave. However, your next leave's SMP will be based on what you earnt within this leave (whenever your qualifying week falls)

Congrats!

@FeelUselesss thank you! Do you know what makes me qualified for smp? I’m useless with this stuff! But where it’s so early on I don’t want to talk to anyone about it in real life !!

I read that you need to work for 26weeks but would that mean I have to go back early and work for 26 weeks to qualify?

It’s all a shock to the system

AFAIK you have to have worked continuously for 26 weeks before the 15th week prior to your due date to qualify for SMP.

I work in HR and in my company I deal with a few of employees who find themselves pregnant in their first maternity.
Most of the time it is granted that if you qualified and were paid SMP by your company, chances are you will qualify and be paid SMP again the second time around.

Your maternity leave is classed as employment.

Mat leave is classed as employed.
If you get enhanced mat pay it's different, but otherwise you will still he entitled to another round of mat leave.