Please help me with my SMP calculations

[LaCerbiatta]

My employer is not taking into account 2 pay rises I have received after those qualifying weeks for calculating the SMP.

I want to complain, but I'm not sure how the calculations are made. Should the 90% be calculated from my present salary, after pay rise, or should some average calculation be made? If so, how does that work?

If I want an official, definite answer, who should I call?

Many thanks!

Gov website here Pay rises after qualifying period not taken into account - thats why its a qualifying period?

Look at the dates for the qualifying period, to see whether there's a chance you could shift the weeks taken into account till later. I'm looking at SMP/maternity benefit for my next (when it happens) from a fluctuating freelance income, so will be choosing my qualifying weeks very carefully, let me tell you!

If you look at lal123's link under 'if you get a payrise' you will see that if you get a pay rise at any point between your qualifying period and the end of your maternity leave, your SMP must be recalculated on the basis of your new salary and the balance paid to you. It's one of those quirky rules, if you search for 'alabaster' and 'SMP' in google it should get you more detail, but the link earlier clearly states the rule so that's all you need.

Thanks! I'm just confused as to how the calculations will actually be made? As opposed to the qualifying 8 weeks should my highest paid 8 weeks be used instead?

Your SMP must be recalculated as if your salary was the amount it was after the most recent pay rise.

Good news: just heard from my employer, they'll adjust the calculations and pay the extra money in April.

Thank you all for posting!