Not eligible for maternity leave confusing.
Hey ladies,
I was just wondering if anyone had same experience and could spare bit of advice.
If I’m not eligible for maternity leave from employer, what can I apply for ? How is there any help from government available?
My quick story. We were trying to get pregnant for 2 years , but weren’t successful. End of April I have decided to change jobs as my hope was gone. I went from high management stressful position to much more relaxed, friendlier environment. My health got so much better, my life settled down…. I stopped checking my ovulation days , stopped doing all the calculations, stopped taking life as it was…. And we got pregnant spontaneously. Couldn’t believe it. Unfortunately when I found out I was in the new job only few weeks.
My boss just looking into it, but I just want to get ready for the worst scenario and be prepared. I have worked all my life and never claimed penny as I didn’t need it. And advices please ?
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Congrats!! If you were technically pregnant when you started the job then you won't get SMP. But assuming you've worked and earn enough then you'll be eligible for maternity allowance. Thats £180ish a week for 39 weeks. Then you're still entitled to leave until you've been away for 52 weeks but it's unpaid. It's unlikely you'll qualify for any enhanced maternity pay from your company but it's always worth asking. They entirely set the rules on that stuff and can set the criteria for almost whatever they like. My company for example gives differing amounts depending on whether you've been there 1, 3 or 5+ years.
You’re eligibility for maternity LEAVE (52 weeks off work), you might not be eligible for SMP (statutory maternity pay (90% pay for 6 weeks followed by £185ish a week). If you were pregnant (even if you didn’t know yet) when you started with that employer then you won’t be eligible for SMP. BUT you will likely be eligible for maternity ALLOWANCE from the government at £185ish a week from when you are something like 28 weeks pregnant - you don’t have to wait until the baby is born so you can claim early if you want to save up a bit and will have no other income. Do you get any OCCUPATIONAL maternity pay? (CAPS for all the terms as it is confusing!) And congratulations!