new job and maternity pay

[foquita]

sorry to ask this when there are probably a million threads asking the same thing but...

I've got an interview for a job that I really want, if I'm successful and I take the job but then fall pregnant will I be entitled to maternity pay?

If I'm not entitled to maternity pay do the company have to keep my job open for me?

If I'm not entitled to maternity pay but the company keep my job open for me, will I get any help financially while I am off work?

Is there any chance they would be able to sack me for getting pregnant?

We don't want to take a break from 'TTC' (I don't even know if I would class it as that, as we just make sure we BD as much as possible and that's it) because I have such long cycles, we don't have as many chances to conceive. At the same time though I don't want to leave my current job to then end up with no job if I fall pregnant and then get sacked or something in the new one!

 

[foquita]

any help or advice appreciated girls

 

[booflebump]

Try directgov https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741

Its says to qualify for SMP

To satisfy the continuous employment rule you must:

have been employed by your employer for a continuous period of at least 26 weeks into the qualifying week

The qualifying week is:

the 15th week before the week in which the baby is due

This period must include:

at least one day's employment in the qualifying week

Which means you must have worked for at least 26 weeks before you are 25 weeks pregnant. And no, you definately can't get sacked for getting pregnant!

xxx

 

[foquita]

that's great, thank you so basically as long as I don't get pregnant before or in the first week ill be fine?

 

[xxembobxx]

I think to safely guarantee SMP you would have to be a few weeks pregnant AFTER you start a job. As all the entitlements are worked out on your estimated due date (EDD) and medical professionals class you as being 2 weeks pregnant before you have even conceived.
If you are working now and plan to go straight into another job then you should be entitled to Maternity Allowance (MA) which, if paid in full, is the same amount as SMP apart from the first 6 weeks at 90% of your pay.
MA requires you to be employed 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks prior to EDD so with continuous employment you would be ok. There is of course the earnings threshold which is you have to have earned £30 a week although the more you earn the more MA you receive.

 

[foquita]

I think to safely guarantee SMP you would have to be a few weeks pregnant AFTER you start a job. As all the entitlements are worked out on your estimated due date (EDD) and medical professionals class you as being 2 weeks pregnant before you have even conceived.
If you are working now and plan to go straight into another job then you should be entitled to Maternity Allowance (MA) which, if paid in full, is the same amount as SMP apart from the first 6 weeks at 90% of your pay.
MA requires you to be employed 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks prior to EDD so with continuous employment you would be ok. There is of course the earnings threshold which is you have to have earned £30 a week although the more you earn the more MA you receive.

I'm working now and will be going straight into the other job if I get it so that's a comfort to know, I can relax now

thank you so much