Maternity Pay

[WilliamsJess]

Hello - I’m wondering if anyone has any advice or perhaps is/has been in the same situation as me?

I am 20 weeks pregnant with my first baby, due in early February 2022. I informed my employer of this just after 12 weeks, and they were super excited for me, which was nice.

My employer is very good with many aspects of the job in terms of company benefits etc, for example paying everyone winter gas bill last year whilst we all work from home, bonuses and a generous salary, so I somewhat expected the Maternity Policy to be quite generous as well. Oh how wrong was I…. I have just been given the policy today, and it is literally the bare minimum. 6 weeks on 90% salary, and the rest SMP.

I have some savings, but not a lot and we still have a lot of baby stuff to buy. My partner is self employed and earns good money, about £45k.

It’s really unfortunate as we currently have a lot of outgoings: Mortgage, Household Bills, Car, Kitchen Repayments, my partners Tax Return etc.

My usual salary is 23k, and dropping down to SMP is going to be a massive struggle. I’m considering only taking 6 weeks maternity as I fear we won’t afford any longer than that, especially when SMP still has Tax, National Insurance (which is increasing, thanks Boris) and Pension contributions deducted. I’m lucky enough to have the option to work from home full time, and my partner does also so I feel like juggling work and the baby won’t be that much of a struggle. Hopefully. My company are also really flexible with working hours.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Am I entitled to any addition help such as Child Benefit, taking into consideration my partners income as well? I can’t really find any clear guidance on the internet… any advice would be greatly appreciated ❤️

@Mustangdally

I could just about function at 6 weeks let alone go back to work and be a professional. It's pipe dreams to think you'll be able to wfh with a 6 week old.. I really don't mean offence, but that's so unrealistic.

This. My episiotomy scar still wasn't great at 6 weeks. I actually hadn't left the house by that point..

Hi,
Can anyone help or give advice

I left the childrens dad , set up on my own with 3 children.
I receive UC and help with the rent
I work when the children are at their dads
I have a new partner and we are expecting next month. We do not live together.
My employer has said I don’t get SMP due to low earnings And I will need to claim maternity allowance. Because of the benefit cap I will receive it but then it will taken off my UC as it’s classed as unearned income .

Previous to covid I would have earnt more than enough to cover SMP . I was furloughed and now because of the effect on the catering industry due to covid I have reduced hours also causing me to earn less.
Does anyone know if I can appeal this? who I can speak to ? Or what I can do

Many thanks

You won't be able to appeal. Either you meet the minimum earnings (based on an average of actual earnings from 18 - 24 weeks iirc) or you don't in which case you have to apply for MA which is similar amount to SMP.

@MYT22 and you might be better starting a new thread of your own as resurrecting the previous one will generate further responses to op rather than you.

Thank you
Im not sure what I’m doing I’m new to this I thought that’s what I had done 🤣

I seem to remember there was a case going through the courts about the treatment of maternity allowance for UC purposes and the courts decided in favour of the DWP so I don’t think there’s anything you can do about it. It’s such a mean and unnecessary decision OP but there it is I’m afraid.