need advice on maternity allowance

[prettypenguin]

so last year i got a job after finding out i was pg with Charlie, left for mat leave in Sept and claimed ma...

the job i was in was on 11 month contract and they took me off the payroll shortly after i left for mat leave but they said they were happy to take me back after mat leave in June, so i was due to go back in June.

June came and i realised i didn't want to work there as i wanted to work part time and in the evenings which they wouldst have been able to do, so the end of June found another job (working pt evenings)

so, im pregnant again and due in December (7th)

i will have to claim ma again as i was pg before starting my pt job.

just reading the forms now, it says i need to have been working 26 weeks before the week baby is due,I've counted and because i was on mat leave if i work up to the week before im due I've only worked 25 :/ -this is not including the time spent i was on maternity leave.

im just wondering if the maternity leave counts as although i was planning to return to the same job they took me off the payroll? so it would look like i was out of work iyswim?

argh I've confused myself now x
Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

 

[redbear]

I know i cant claim it hun because i wont have worked enough weeks between maternity and having this baby xx

 

[Mrs N]

I think if they took you off the pay roll then it wont count, they are quite strict when I applied!
xxx

 

[prettypenguin]

bum!!! as if I'll be one week out as well :,(

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

 

[redbear]

can you not talk to citizens advice there maybe some discretion as your so close! X

 

[prettypenguin]

i could do... they prob won't though, guess ill have to get saving and do some overtime :l or return to work early. what will you be doing redbear? x

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mrs N]

tbh they are pretty tight, I remember having to fill out loads of extra forms as I qualified for the top amount but only just and they wanted me to prove it which was a pain!!
xxx

 

[prettypenguin]

hmm, just thinking do they start their weeks on a Sunday or a Monday? ha im grasping at straws here!

my plan b is to save save save and then try and get about 3 months off or something... perhaps see if i can switch to days or mornings when i return so im not pooped by tea time then id have to get ready for work... x

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

 

[sarahmc89]

You should look into Employment and Support Allowance, it's meant to be in place for people who don't qualify for MA or Statutory Maternity Pay. I think it's a bit rubbish that your previous work took you off the pay-roll in the first place though, did you not quality for getting Maternity pay through them?