11 weeks pregnant and lost my job !!! HELP

[scwxx]

Hello can anyone help,

I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have just been told by my work place that after my 6 month probation period which ended on 7th Jan 2017 I am not getting kept on, I have been given 4 weeks notice.

I am no longer with my partner as he did not agree to the pregnancy.

I have looked online and I only seem to be entitled to £56.00 per week during my pregnancy if I am not working. I have car finance to pay and credit cards, I really don't know what I am going to do! I would much rather start working again but will I not struggle to get a job whilst pregnant?

x

 

[Rose83]

This might sound harsh to employers out there but I believe you have no legal obligation to tell an employer you are pregnant until 15 weeks before your due date. I'm a teacher and someone actually did this at my school, they got themselves employed by the school I was at to do a maternity cover for 9 months then four weeks into the job announced they were pregnant and would only be working 5 months of the cover. It didn't go down well with management but there was nothing they could legally do about it.

I'm assuming you'll be looking for child support from your ex partner too? X

 

[Rose83]

P.S I'm assuming you hadn't told your work you are pregnant? If you had and then they suddenly said you weren't being kept on that wouldn't be right

 

[scwxx]

They only found out I was pregnant on 3rd January. I have known longer but it became obvious when I had morning sickness and was not going to work nights out so they started asking. I have spoken to people and it does seem strange that it has happened now after I said I was pregnant but I have no proof that is the reason they are not keeping me on. My auntie is a lawyer and is looking into it!
I would much rather work and get paid than be unemployed. I even thought about a temp job for the mean time!

 

[Rose83]

Yeah definitely look into that, very suspicious that you've only be told now, 10 days after the end of your probation period.

What kind of company is it? You wouldn't necessarily need proof, as long as they know you're willing to go ahead with claiming you've been discriminated against they might be scared into reacting. I know where I used to work couldn't cope with any negative publicity so if you mentioned you'd been to your Union or citizens advice they immediately backed down.

 

[PeanutButter]

Most places only offer maternity cover if you've been working there for 9 months... (So I've herd) fx you come across a job soon. X

 

[kumber]

I would contact ACAS about them suddenly ending your probation period as it seems very dodgy!

 

[Laura1992]

Sorry you're going through this. Not the same, but I was working abroad when I fell pregnant and I had only been at my job a few months. Due to visa reasons, I couldn't stay if I wasn't working, and due to only being there a few months, I was not entitled to mat leave and the laws where I was were different anyway and employer would not allow any time off for hospital appointments or pregnancy related sickness. I had very bad sickness and exhaustion throughout pregnant with my twins (now 20 days old), so I took the decision to move back the UK with my partner which meant I was earning nothing at all from 11 weeks pregnant until whenever I decide to go back to work - not anytime soon with newborns o look after.

It is a struggle. Luckily my parents took us in and we have been living with them. We'll move out when we can afford to, but we live in a very expensive city and right now things are working well as my mum helps me with the girls.

Rambling here, but my point is, have you any family support? Can anyone help you out or offer you somewhere to live for a while? Echoing previous poster, but you need to chase up financial support from your ex too. xxx

 

[Blueclass]

I'd get a job and not tell them till 15 weeks before DD. Id also contact acas.x

 

[Tigeress]

Had the same problem. I was made redundant at 3 months. Then I went for interviews, got a job but couldn't start as I ended up in hospital. I would defo look into the legal side of it because it's very coincidental they are now letting you go. We have really struggled throughout the pregnancy, money wise. Then my partner was made redundant a month ago, just before Christmas and a month before lil one is due. It's been a nightmare. He starts his new job tomorrow so hopefully things pick up again. I have been dying to go to work but cos of medical reasons, haven't been able to. Xx

 

[nikkix86]

You should speak to the Job centre about maternity allowance as I believe anyone can get that employed or not but I don't think you can get it till you are 28 weeks which is the only problem but it's about 139 pound a week

 

[Tigeress]

You should speak to the Job centre about maternity allowance as I believe anyone can get that employed or not but I don't think you can get it till you are 28 weeks which is the only problem but it's about 139 pound a week

Really hun? I'm on esa at the moment? Xx

 

[nikkix86]

Speak to the Job centre and see if it would be extra money and not that it would replace what you already get hun x

 

[Tigeress]

Speak to the Job centre and see if it would be extra money and not that it would replace what you already get hun x

Thanks hun will check tomorrow xx

 

[Rose83]

Maternity allowance is for people who have been working for 26 consecutive weeks prior to a certain point in the pregnancy but are no longer in the job or aren't entitled to maternity SMP for some reason. You need to read the stuff on the government webpage about it. A friend of mine was still employed but on maternity leave with her first when she got pregnant again and didn't go back to work for long enough between 1st and 2nd baby so wasn't entitled to SMP but also wasn't entitled to maternity allowance either as she owns her own business but doesn't take a wage from it X

 

[Rose83]

Actually I think I'm wrong! I just checked the website and it seems far more complicated than I thought - I tried using my own details and I think I may actually be entitled to a very small amount and I had no idea! X

 

[nikkix86]

Best to check with the job centre but if you've been on probation for 6 months you should be entitled

 

[Ellsbells]

I got a new job at 18 weeks pregnant as I had moved to the north of the country. I didn't say a word about my pregnancy until the day I started, my manager was absolutely lovely about it and said although I wasn't entitled to company Maternity pay, she was happy for me to come back after having my son.. I currently get maternity allowance every fortnight (£280 every 2 weeks). I got the forms online through the HMRC, I'd recommend doing this ASAP. I also get £80 child benefit which everybody gets every month and £60 a week child tax credit. The help is out there and just because you're pregnant doesn't make you a write off. Good luck x

 

[First Time Dad]

Deleted

 

[JD.Deedee]

You get more than just jsa, you'll get housing benefit too and council tax reduction. Unfortunately regardless of pregnancy car finance and credit cards isn't their issue and you should look into getting a payment plan so you don't get added costs for your repayments. You can apply for maternity allowance which is 9 months pay I think about 11 weeks before you're due? That's when you don't get smp.. there is also maternity grants you should look into, perhaps contact your local sure start centre to find out more. Once baby is born you'll also be able to claim child benefit and child tax credits. You can still look for jobs as you're not legally obliged to tell them you're pregnant just yet.