Maternity Allowance

Hi,I just discovered from my employer I will not get any maternity pay because I didn't work enough time in my current place.By the time I Ieave for maternity I have worked only 25 weeks. Is anyone familiar with Maternity Allowance here?Online is says the eligibility for it would be only if employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before your due date. Please any experience shared it would be greatly appreciated. I found all of this so complicated!🤯

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Have you worked at all before your current job? If so then you're probably fine. Maternity allowance is slightly lower than SMP so it's £180ish a week for 39 weeks. SMP has 90% salary for the first 6 weeks. You just have to apply straight to the government for maternity allowance. https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

Thanks Caroline!:)

I have worked in another place from Nov 2023 to July 2024 and started my new job in a school in Sept 2024.Do you think the GOV will count also time from my previous job? Do you know when should I apply for maternity allowance?I will work until the 24th of Feb.

I've not applied for it myself as I got enhanced mat pay so I'm afraid my knowledge doesn't go further than the website I shared and what I've picked up from Peanut. But if you've worked enough in any job within the timeframe you'll be eligible. If not, once you stop getting paid you might be eligible for universal credit depending on your household income. I'd always apply early!

Ok!Thanks again Caroline:)

@Frá you should recieve MA. I claimed MA always worked just switched jobs and had not been at the new job long enough. 😊 You'll have to submit payslips over a certain period so may need to submit previous payslips from previous job.

Thanks Louise:)

you should be fine. I got maternity allowance with my job as I started literally Right around the same time I got pregnant🥲 But they do count time in your last job as long as it’s within the time frame they’re looking at I think. From what I can remember.

You should be eligible for government statutory maternity pay, if you've been paying national insureance. Your company will have their own rules when it comes to enhanced maternity pay - they will have a policy, ask for a copy to read to understand if you are eligible.

I finished work in the August and had my son in the following Feb, and still qualified for MA. You have to have worked 26 weeks within the 66 weeks before your due date, so sounds like you’ll be fine. The 26 weeks work doesn’t have to be consistently either.

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