Have work got my maternity pay wrong?

[lisacaton1980]

Hi, just had the letter from work confirming the start of my maternity leave but they have said that I don't qualify for maternity pay as not been with them the correct length of time.

Can someone help me with this before I call them on Monday?

My due date is 7th November 2014.

I started working with them on the 20th January 2014 on a 6 month contract which was then renewed until 20th December 2014. I think they may have worked it out on the start date of my new contract but not sure.

Thanks

 

[maisie78]

According to the advice now website you are entitled to maternity pay as long as you worked for the company at least a week before becoming pregnant and you earn at least £102 before tax. Assuming your earnings are over the threshold it does look like they have your start date incorrect.

 

[Pearls18]

So long as you're working up until week 25 of pregnancy I think you should get SMP they must be working with the wrong date, so definitely ring them.

 

[Abz1982]

Out of curiosity what was the answer?

Were you employed by them in a staff role or as a consultant/external? As I believe the latter means you get MA not SMP

 

[lisacaton1980]

Thanks everyone. I emailed HR on Monday but am still waiting for a reply. I've looked on direct.gov and answered the questions to calculate what i'm entitled to and that comes back as SMP from my employer.

My only concern is that before I started with them in January I was unemployed due to redundancy - so who would I be claiming MA from?

 

[Abz1982]

Thanks everyone. I emailed HR on Monday but am still waiting for a reply. I've looked on direct.gov and answered the questions to calculate what i'm entitled to and that comes back as SMP from my employer.

My only concern is that before I started with them in January I was unemployed due to redundancy - so who would I be claiming MA from?

You mentioned though that you are on a contract. It may be that. They may not have you down as an employee but a contractor and thus Self employed.

 

[lisacaton1980]

All sorted. Got a letter in the post this morning saying they had miscalculated and they are going to be paying me! So glad that I checked.