totally confused!!

[louise_d]

hi guys
i'm only 14 weeks so know i have a while to get my head around everything but i'm not sure where i stand!

i've been employed via the council since May 08 in my teaching post (based in 2 schools) and my contract ends 1st jan 09. there is little chance of it being renewed due to the fact that it was covering a maternity leave. being relistic i prob won't be offered another contract in a different school seeing as i would only be able to complete 1/2 a term.

SO (sorry for waffling!) what type of maternity pay do i qualify for???

any help/advice would be great

lou xxx

 

[nazmomi]

I think you will have to apply for maternity allowance, Thats what I did when I had my son as I had worked during my pregnancy I just wasn't working when I got to 29 weeks. You get the same amount as SMP it's just not paid thru an employer.

 

[kalia]

You are cutting things fine but I think you are entitled to SMP:

If your contract ends

If you satisfy both the continuous employment rule and the earnings rule, your employer must pay you SMP even if your contract ends at any time after the start of the 15th week before the week your baby is due.

You can find more details here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/smp/

So assuming your contract ends on 1st January you should get it. You would also then be entitled to any enhanced maternity pay that your council offers I think.