Maternity allowance or smp?which one is best?

[BabyBobbyBuz]

I was wondering if you guys could help me?
I work two part time jobs and just fall short of smp in one but my boss said he would put me in for the 16 extra hours this month so I cud get smp. If I did this thou I would average out about 90 a week and my other part time job wouldn't be taken into consideration. So I would prob get about £81 a week for 6 weeks then smp rate for 33.
If I don't do this I could use 13 weeks of my two jobs combined averaging around £150 -does this mean I would get ma flat rate for the full 39 weeks?meaning I would be better off for first 6weeks?
Also I heard that smp was taxable and you have to pay ni where as ma is not and it automatically counts towards your ni contributions?

I am trying to decide what to do however I've fallen short in both my jobs so I've not paid any ni contributions in the last 5months will I be refused ma?the last thing I want is to tell my emplyer not to put me in for those extra hours to be refused ma and then end up on incapacity benifit as all my hard work would hav ment nothing!

This system must reaaly suc for ppl who have worked full time and now hav to survive on flat rate of smp.it doesn't make sense.

So does anyone know?which is better For me smp or ma?

 

[MrsRH]

Your situation sounds quite complicated!

I would speak to the CAB about your position and get proper employment advice.
I don't think you can choose between MA and SMP; depending on your income you get one ot the other.
xxx

 

[kit603]

You should definitely speak to someone at CAB.

However, i've just been through this as i've been trying to help my cousin work this out as she's in a similar situation and from what I understood, to qualify for SMP, you would need to have been employed by the same employer for 26 weeks before your qualifying week (the 15th week before the week in which your baby is due). Also, you need to have earned an average of £95 a week over those 26 weeks.

If you don't qualify for SMP, you can then claim MA.

From what you've said, I wouldn't have thought the extra 16 hours would have made a difference to your claim for SMP - I wouldn't think you'd be eligible??

 

[BabyBobbyBuz]

You should definitely speak to someone at CAB.

However, i've just been through this as i've been trying to help my cousin work this out as she's in a similar situation and from what I understood, to qualify for SMP, you would need to have been employed by the same employer for 26 weeks before your qualifying week (the 15th week before the week in which your baby is due). Also, you need to have earned an average of £95 a week over those 26 weeks.

If you don't qualify for SMP, you can then claim MA.

From what you've said, I wouldn't have thought the extra 16 hours would have made a difference to your claim for SMP - I wouldn't think you'd be eligible??

my employer says I didn't earn enough in the last 8weeks and if I do them hours I will qualify,I get paid monthly so would average out. I'm thinking tho it may be better to just leave it and go for ma as once I qualify for smp that will be it. And if I can combine both my jobs I cud get the rate of maternity allowance for 36 weeks instead of 90% of my one job which would be £81. It cud mean a difference of£40 a week. Argh I'm so comfussed I don't have time to make an appoinment with cab as I have to let my employer know on fri so he can process my wages.
What do you think,Im stuck with this one!

 

[kit603]

You should definitely speak to someone at CAB.

However, i've just been through this as i've been trying to help my cousin work this out as she's in a similar situation and from what I understood, to qualify for SMP, you would need to have been employed by the same employer for 26 weeks before your qualifying week (the 15th week before the week in which your baby is due). Also, you need to have earned an average of £95 a week over those 26 weeks.

If you don't qualify for SMP, you can then claim MA.

From what you've said, I wouldn't have thought the extra 16 hours would have made a difference to your claim for SMP - I wouldn't think you'd be eligible??

my employer says I didn't earn enough in the last 8weeks and if I do them hours I will qualify,I get paid monthly so would average out. I'm thinking tho it may be better to just leave it and go for ma as once I qualify for smp that will be it. And if I can combine both my jobs I cud get the rate of maternity allowance for 36 weeks instead of 90% of my one job which would be £81. It cud mean a difference of£40 a week. Argh I'm so comfussed I don't have time to make an appoinment with cab as I have to let my employer know on fri so he can process my wages.
What do you think,Im stuck with this one!

If you know that you'll earn more with MA then go for that, because you'll also have to pay NICs and that on SMP. Can you not call your CAB office? My local office has an advice line by telephone on certain days.

 

[suzib76]

i woild just call the jobcentre and ask them for advice on claiming MA just to be sure that it would work out that way for you, sounds like it is the better option but no harm in asking them before you decide what to do