If I left my job at around xmas time (or now even), and baby is not due til April...

[LankyDoodle]

will I still get maternity allowance?

I can take my maternity from Feb 1st, and have a series of holiday and shift swaps which means I can leave my job in 16 weeks, when I will be almost 27 weeks pregnant... well not leave it, but go off to have my baby and not come back til Feb 2011 if I keep the job. However, more and more, I am certain (like about 1000%) that I won't be returning to my job and it is causing me a great deal of upset and stress at the moment, that I don't need at all.

I have been considering leaving my job quite soonish and, OK, I won't get anything til I am 29 weeks pregnant, but I have worked for the last 8 months and earn about £300 average a week, so would I get maternity allowance if I left my job?

 

[Hollys_Twinny]

U can take the holidays you have remaining just before maternity would start.. That's what I did!! But unless you get signed of oN the sick for anytime before those holidays start I guess it would be classed as you quitting! X

 

[LankyDoodle]

Yes, I'd be quitting but I read on Direct.Gov that if you have worked for 26 of the 66 weeks before the baby is due, and for any of the 13 weeks within that period earned at least £30 a week, you can claim maternity allowance (rather than SMP).

The problem is, I know I am going to end up signed off sick, which I want to avoid. I have had severe mental illness, reasonably recently (stopped medication about 2 years ago) and am concerned that at the moment I am feeling I can't cope with all that's going on. I don't want to end up signed off with whatever the dr would call it, as it's taken me this long to shake off my label as 'the one that was a raving psycho'

 

[kirstyderby]

Yes, I'd be quitting but I read on Direct.Gov that if you have worked for 26 of the 66 weeks before the baby is due, and for any of the 13 weeks within that period earned at least £30 a week, you can claim maternity allowance (rather than SMP).

The problem is, I know I am going to end up signed off sick, which I want to avoid. I have had severe mental illness, reasonably recently (stopped medication about 2 years ago) and am concerned that at the moment I am feeling I can't cope with all that's going on. I don't want to end up signed off with whatever the dr would call it, as it's taken me this long to shake off my label as 'the one that was a raving psycho'

Hi,
if u r working for the company when u are 15 weeks pregnant then they have 2 pay u ur SMP.
How far along r u?

 

[LankyDoodle]

Hi and thanks to both.

I am 11 weeks tomorrow.

 

[kirstyderby]

I got made redundant when i was 30 weeks n applied for maternity allowance n they told me as i worked at the company when i was 15 weeks the company had 2 pay it. I would stick it out for a while. U will still get 39 weeks money.
Good luck