SMP vs maternity allowance?? advice

[Anonuser21]

Hi all

Just need some advice.

I am a permanent part-time employee but have reduced my hours to doing on average around 12 hours per week since May 23. I have today been informed by my employer that I am not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) as I haven’t earned enough but I believe this is a mistake, still trying to sort this out.

My average weekly earnings as of right now is less than £172.48.

Would it make any difference if got Statutory Maternity Pay or maternity allowance?

My understanding is you ONLY get paid maternity allowance and statutory maternity allowance for 39 weeks? Is this correct?

Do you pay National insurance / tax on maternity allowance like you would on SMP.

Thanks in advance

P.S. 29 weeks pregnant?

You need to have earned an average of £123 per week in weeks 17-25 of pregnancy and have been working for 26 weeks by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant.

Maternity allowance is the same amount as SMP except that you don't get the first 6 weeks at 90% of salary. Both SMP and MA are only paid for 39 weeks.