please help Smp/MA

[jess_smurf]

Hi

I am currently on SMP after losing kristian at full term started on 6 th june and due to return on the 6th march from smp at which point i will be 25 weeks pregnant, now work are telling me i have to go on to MA as not entitled to SMP which has really upset me but also let me in the shit financially

will i be able to claim the same amount of tax credits am i classed as working or on income support

sat in tears here i am already struggling financially as only getting paid smp atm and wanted to get all debts paid off before baby is here will be losing £120 per week for 6 weeks gutted x

 

[MrsRH]

did they say why you have to go on MA, hun??

Doesn't seem right to me.........I'd speak to your HR or take your contrect to the CAB

xxx

 

[FierceAngel]

that doesnt sound right to me hun... i think i could be wrong that if you are going back to same employer than its continued empolyment even wen on maternity leave...

you have to go back to work for a short time in between your two leaves but shouldnt stop yr smp xx

 

[FierceAngel]

Who can get Statutory Maternity Pay

To qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), you must satisfy two basic rules:

* the continuous employment rule
* the earnings rule

The continuous employment rule

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

Although continuous employment usually means employment by the same employer without a break, there are some circumstances when breaks in employment can be disregarded. The employment rule may be modified slightly if your baby is born prematurely.

thats from the direct gov website... i think you need to go back to work before you hit 25 weeks with this one... even if its for 1 day x so go back the last week in feb? hth

 

[mummy0704]

you've got to be earning x amount of money over a period of time to be intitled to smp, i've been on sick a fair bit during my pregnancy so not earned enough to get smp so i have to claim ma, so if you've not been working and only getting smp your earnings wont be high enough to claim it again hence why you'll be on ma. but you should get the higher rate of tax credits while your on it.

 

[jess_smurf]

been told today i am only entitled to 90% of smp for 39 weeks have cried all day they count 8 weeks back from 25 weeks and give your average earnings

it a big pile of crap £10pw worse off now i know its not loads but it just upset me have 6 weeks on smp until baby arrives

does this mean i can claim ssmg grant before baby or will i have to wait until after still

 

[mummy0704]

no it will have to be after as you have to be claiming income support or higher rate of child tax credit sorry hun x x

 

[auzelia]

its right sadly they calculate your average earnings over an 8 week period around your 15th week of pregnancy, and you need to have been earning £95 or more to qualify for SMP.
If you claim MA you can still get WTC as you are classed as working, its like claiming ESA when your work wont pay you SSP.

You also dont get tax and NI taken off MA which means in the long run you obv gain from this. (obv. disregarding the fact that SMP pays 6 weeks at 90%)

 

[jess_smurf]

i would rather have maternity allowance as it would be more and then could get ssmg