Maternity Allowence help please

[poochielove]

Okay, i have been thought all the links and old posts and am positive i cannot find the answer to my question

I told my employer i am pregnant, they want my MATB1 as they say i will be entitled to MA (iv only been there a month and a bit) i havent worked for a year and a half before this though. Now if i work the full 26 weeks (that i have read i need to to qualify) i will leave on November 30th and baby is due on December 4th doesnt leave much time really plus theres lots of flights of stairs and baby could come early!!! I have 13 days holiday left..can i use this at the end and class it 2 weeks of work??? Also if i cant cope and get signed off on the sick would this also class as working (i really hope you no what i mean) basically i need to work 26 weeks and am trying to think about all scenarios. Also if i am really struggling near the end and ask them to cut my hours down to a couple of days a week does this still class as a full week?? Plus if i am earning less near the end does this mean i will recieve less MA? At the mo i come out with about £850 per month.
I so tired of stressing about it as i desperatly need MA to survive plus my job is keeping me on so i must be entitled to something if i cant complete 26 weeks employment with them.
Really hope some of you can help. xxx

 

[HideiLu]

Hey hun

I will try and answer to the best of my knowledge.

I think the answer is yes, you can take the holiday and it classes as work, and sick too, as you are still classed as an employee for that time.

Also with part time hours, I beleive it is yes again, as it states as long as you are earning £30 or more a week.

Hope that helps hun xx

 

[poochielove]

Hey hun

I will try and answer to the best of my knowledge.

I think the answer is yes, you can take the holiday and it classes as work, and sick too, as you are still classed as an employee for that time.

Also with part time hours, I beleive it is yes again, as it states as long as you are earning £30 or more a week.

Hope that helps hun xx

Thankx babe!!! Just need reasurance...getting really stressed atm with money!

 

[nori]

I did read in my handbook that if you go off sick 4 weeks before your due date it must be taken as maternity?

 

[kalia]

Employers pay SMP but you are not entitled to this because you were already pregnant when you started. MA is a benefit paid to you by the government and I think you apply to the government through a job centre not through your employer. Google Maternity Allowance and you will find the government website which will explain all about it.

In order to qualify for MA you have to have worked 26 weeks in the last 3 years. Any week that you have earned over £30 counts. You should check with the appropriate authorities but I would have thought holidays would count as you are still in employ.

MA is £117.18 a week or 90% of your earnings, whichever is lowest. You send them 13 pay slips as proof of your earnings so just make sure they are from weeks when you earn more

As you are (presumably as you will be returning to the same employers) in a permanent contract you are entitled to one year's maternity leave. You only receive MA for 39 weeks though. You could look in to claiming income support. Remember once baby is here you will be entitled to child benefit and child tax credits - we get £20 a week tax credit and £18.80 child benefit.

If you are off sick from 36 weeks pregnant your employers can start your maternity leave. It depends on your job and how your pregnancy goes but I think you would be struggling to work until 5 days before your due date. This year I know 6 people who have had babies, 4 of us were 41 weeks and the other 2 had their babies at 38 weeks. There's no telling when LO will come along.