New job + Mat pay

[H1119]

Help what are the rules on Maternity pay.

Me and my partner were planning to start ttc but have held off due to myself being made redundant as job has completed closed.

I have a new job which I start next month with 6 months probation.

How long do I have to wait to fall pregnant in order to still receive maternity pay?
Is it safer to just wait until my probation is over?

You usually have to have been working for 6 months to qualify for statutory maternity pay, but it's worth checking the ts and cs of your new job to understand your position

You need to not be pregnant when you start so you'd have to have had at least 1 period once you start work (pregnancy is dated from 1st day of last period). This is for SMP. If they offer enhanced pay then there may be other criteria

This isn't strictly true. You need to have worked for 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant so need to not be pregnant when starting the job.

With six months probation I’d be waiting 4 months before starting to be honest. It’s a protected characteristic but they could claim any reason to let you go. You could fight it but not sure it’d be worth the fight you’d have on your hands.