Pregnant and facing redundancy

[LulaKoba]

Hi everyone!
I've never posted on here before but I'm looking for people with a similar experience to share their story. I'm 9 weeks pregnant, baby due October, and am currently facing a redundancy process at work.
It's really stressing me out. If I am made redundant, my contract will end at the end of August. What I would like to know is, would I still be eligible for statutory maternity pay? What support is out there? My partner works, but this wouldn't cover our monthly bills. We also have a 5 year old. Please let me know any advice or experience you have that is similar x

Not sure on the smp but if you are on a low enough income you may be eligible to claim Universal credit. Do you have rent to pay ?
If you are not eligible for smp then you could look at claiming maternity allowance. However if you qualify for Uc and maternity allowance the MA is deducted pound for pound from the UC, so you are not really better off by claiming them both. It would be a matter of what works out best for you. Eligibility for Uc will depend on whether you have savings, how much your partner earns, any rent you pay etc.

You can find helpful information on the ACAS website. I know it’s not what you’re asking, but overall you will be better protected by law if you are married.

Once you’ve met the requirements for SMP you’ll get it even if your employment ends- your employer could either carry on paying it after you’ve left, or they might prefer to pay it out in a lump sum.

Why would marriage better protect me in this situation?

Thank you for the advice so far everyone! I'll look into these all. And we are in a rented house x

@LulaKoba

Why would marriage better protect me in this situation?

It doesn't. You will qualify for maternity benefits if you meet the criteria regardless of whether you are married or not. If you qualify for Universal credit it will need to be a joint claim assuming you live together but whether you are married or not makes not a jot of difference !

Thank You Babyroobs. Yes we live together, have been together years, no plans of marriage yet so glad we won't be discriminated against for that 🙈

@LulaKoba

Hi everyone! I've never posted on here before but I'm looking for people with a similar experience to share their story. I'm 9 weeks pregnant, baby due October, and am currently facing a redundancy process at work. It's really stressing me out. If I am made redundant, my contract will end at the end of August. What I would like to know is, would I still be eligible for statutory maternity pay? What support is out there? My partner works, but this wouldn't cover our monthly bills. We also have a 5 year old. Please let me know any advice or experience you have that is similar x

Hello @LulaKoba - really sorry to read about what must be a stressful and difficult situation. I'm just jumping in quickly to say that this week we are running a free online legal advice clinic about everything to do with employment and pregnancy and your rights in work as a parent, with Maternity Action. Volunteers will give you free advice on your particular situation if you post your question on the thread (they will message you privately for the info you don't want to post publicly). It ends Friday.

Thanks!

MNHQ

I'm in a very similar position and my union have advised I should get my SMP in a lump with my redundancy pay (although will be tax & NI unlike redundancy). I am due mid October so my qualifying weeks for calculating SMP are well within time they need to be so hopefully yours should be too!