SMP for a new starter - can someone break this down for me?

[Newuser205]

Sorry if this comes across a bit stupid but can anyone break down the whole SMP eligibility for me? The below description doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

"have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth"

I have used the "check your work dates for SMP" on the citizens advice website , put in some dummy dates, and it suggests that if I'm due end of Jan 2023 (so approx 4 weeks pregnant), then I am eligible for SMP as long as I started with the company on the 23rd April 2022. That seems generous to me.

Can someone break this down for me?

Basically starting a new job in a few weeks and wondering whether to wait before TTC. If I only have to wait a few weeks then fine. If I need to wait 6+ months then I'll just start trying now as I don't want to keep waiting all that time.

You are pregnant for 40 weeks (based on how they date it). So 15 weeks before your due date, you will be 25 weeks pregnant.

So basically you need to not be pregnant when you start a job. If you start a job, have a period and then start ttc you should be fine.

By the time you are 25 weeks pregnant you need have worked for your employer for 26 weeks I.e. you can't already be pregnant when starting the job. Bear in mind that you are counted as pregnant from the start of your last period so on the date you conceive you'd already be 2 weeks pregnant. Best to have had a cycle or 2 in the job before ttc

Thank you so much, I thought that was the case when I used the calculator but thought it sounded too generous.

Does SMP include being paid 90% of your salary for the first 6 weeks? Or is that something different again?

Yes SMP involves a 6 week period at 90% of salary. The relevant period for calculating the 90% is roughly weeks 17-25 of pregnancy

Yes 90% for 6 weeks and then £156ish a week until 9m. This is government funded so the company can claim it back, so basically everyone already working can get it. You just can't find out you are pregnant so decide to get a job.

Thanks @dementedpixie .

Makes more sense now. Still think it's quite generous that you can get SMP when getting pregnant not long after starting a new job. Thought it would be at least 6-12 months.

Thanks @BendingSpoons .
Ah didn't realise it was government funded. Thought the 90% for those 6 weeks came out of the company's pocked.

That would be usual for enhanced mat pay which is a company cost

pocket, not pocked!

I've had a look at Maternity Allowance as well. Is that basically the same as SMP? Looks approx £156 a week as well, but you just don't get the 90% for the first 6 weeks.

And I take it if I am pregnant before a new job starts, I should be eligible for Maternity Allowance?

Yes if you arent eligible for SMP you can claim MA. Same amount except you don't get the 6 weeks at 90%.

You need to not be pregnant when you start the job basically. But be aware that if you have a long probationary period which is the case in some workplaces this could cause issues. My advice is not to ttc until you are successfully in your new job in case it doesn't work out

@dementedpixie Oh that's not so bad in the grand scheme of things then. It's just those first 6 weeks I would get more if I got pregnant a little later.

The company I'm joining don't offer enhanced maternity pay anyway so I'm not going to worry too much about this then.