Maternity Allowance Help - so stressed :(!

[nicolefx]

Not sure if anyone here can maybe put my mind at ease a little as after speaking to 4 different people from different departments today no one has been able to give me a definate answer . Basically my situation is this. Last year I was a student and got enough money from college and grooming the occasional dog without really needing a job. However, I was employed at Christmas from the 12/12/10 to the 31/12/10 by Next. It was a temporary job for the festive season. I was then employed by Home Fundraising from the 22/02/11 to 01/04/11. After I left college I started looking for a full time job and started with Sky on the 8/08/11. I am still employed by Sky but I am currently on maternity leave - a bit earlier than expected as I was working 11 hour shifts and travelling 1 and a half hours to work, thought I would be able to cope till 38 weeks but I gave up LOL! My question is this - my test period where I would have had to have been employed for 26 weeks is from September till the 19th of December - so because I have went on maternity leave will I still be classed as employed? If I am still classed as employed then it will be fine as overall I will have worked about 28/29 weeks ... but if not and they view it as my employment stopping on the day I went on maternity I won't have worked enough weeks and won't be entitled to it . Which is terrifying me because I have no idea how we are supposed to get by on just OH's wage which is only 800/900 a month. I called today, spoke to 4 different people and they all just 'yeah I duno I think you should be okay' - not one of them could just tell me yes or no and it's really worrying me - I don't want to have to go through the next couple of weeks or however long it will take them to get back to me worrying about the fact I don't know if I will have money or not. I know you have to earn at least 30 pounds a week over the 26 week period and I have earned more than that on average. Just looking to see if anyone has any idea or has been in a similar situation . x

 

[lynnikins]

if your still an employee for tax purposes then you will qualify from what I understand

 

[Sarah24]

As long as you've worked the minimum required then surely it would be enough for SMP? they class you as employed unless you actually say so. Who did you speak to?

 

[nicolefx]

if your still an employee for tax purposes then you will qualify from what I understand

That's what I thought as I am still an employee of Sky, have KIT days booked and everything and I am definately still going back once LO is here. Thanks for replying x

 

[nicolefx]

As long as you've worked the minimum required then surely it would be enough for SMP? they class you as employed unless you actually say so. Who did you speak to?

I know I can't get SMP because I haven't been with Sky long enough but I thought I would qualify for maternity allowance. I spoke to two people from general enquiries and two people from the Wrexham maternity allowance department - both numbers I got from the direct.gov website. Thanks for replying x

 

[Sarah24]

Personally I got more help from my employer than any of the government info. Sky is bloody huge, their HR dept must have advice for you.

 

[nicolefx]

Personally I got more help from my employer than any of the government info. Sky is bloody huge, their HR dept must have advice for you.

I know Sky had said I should definately be able to get maternity allowance because in the past 66 weeks I will have been employed for 29 weeks (even though i'll have been on maternity leave for about 5 weeks I am still an employee of Sky) and have earned more than 30 pounds per week over the 29 weeks so fit their criteria. I don't know if i'm just worrying needlessly, but the people on the phone today just made me feel sooo much worse . x

 

[ilovebabybean]

Im applying for maternity allowance, was made redundant just before i went off for it last July and had maternity pay until the end of May this year and they are including it as employment in my test period, so yeah from what the lady i spoke to said they include maternity leave, to give my 4 highest months payslips with the huge form i have to fill in as well as mat B1! Hope this helps xxx

 

[liesl]

Found this through the directgov site (on https://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/maternity-allowance-ma/#maelig so seems that you should be okay even if you are on maternity currently;

"You must have been employed and/or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in your 66 week test period. The 26 weeks do not have to be in a row and it does not matter how much you earn.You do not have to be actually physically at work to be employed or self-employed; you might be off work sick or have been on Statutory Maternity Leave for an earlier pregnancy for example."

 

[nicolefx]

Thanks so much guys you have really helped to put my mind at ease!

ilovebabybean - I filled the form in the other day, jees it is sooo long LOL! x

 

[Lulabelle27]

Don't panic! Yes you're classed as an employee whilst on maternity leave so won't be a problem. The most you may have to do is make up class 2 national insurance contributions which is £2.50 a week (just in case you're a little behind) hope this helps

 

[nicolefx]

Don't panic! Yes you're classed as an employee whilst on maternity leave so won't be a problem. The most you may have to do is make up class 2 national insurance contributions which is £2.50 a week (just in case you're a little behind) hope this helps

That should be fine lol . Thanks alot, can't believe the people on the phone couldn't tell me all this today LOL! Just out of curiousity/impatience does anyone know how long it would usually take for them to process it all? I think it's the Wrexham office my form would go to as I live in Glasgow x

 

[ashlee23]

doesnt take too long to process as long as u have all ur documentation. payslips etc. u also need to work out which 16 week period u want them to work out ur MA for (it will be 90% of ur average earnings over a 16 consecutive week period or same as SMP - whichevers less). took about 2 weeks to get mine processed and confirmed xxx

 

[ilovebabybean]

I was confused on the same thing too for a while, so happy im entitled, was v confusing! Lol fab cant wait to fill it in x

 

[KnitWit]

I have this form sitting waiting to be filled in... The whole thing makes my brain hurt!! It's such a long and complicated thing to fill out!

 

[nicolefx]

At first I thought it seemed so simple . Should have realised that anything including forms is never simple . Going to double and triple check everything and post it tomorrow . x