how long due you have to be in a job before getting pregnant to be eligible for maternity leave?

[weejie]

have just realised my whole question is in the subject line and so don't have much more to add!

thanks

i think it's about 16 weeks before falling??? Not 100 % on that though.

I looked this up as I'm thinking of changing from freelance to a proper job and for the company to have to pay you 6 weeks pay at 90% and then Statutory Maternity Pay it's 41 weeks before your due date, so about 3 weeks before you conceive.

If you're already pregnant when you join then you get Maternity Allowance direct from the government (same as SMP).

But you're entitled to take a year off regardless of how long you've been there.

You must have been in a job 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pg.

Blimey I can tell I was tired last night, you get maternity leave regardless, as digitalgirl said and as I clearly didn't read, and the qualification is for maternity pay, have a look here for some guidance.