Smp qualifying week??

[Munchkin30]

Hey all,
Does anyone know which the qualifying week is for smp?? It's the fifteenth week before the due date or something but what is that in pregnancy weeks??

Confusing!!

Thanks all xxx

 

[dom85]

The qualifying weeks used for your maternity pay is when you're between 15-23 weeks, there's a calculator on the government website where it works all the dates and your maternity pay out for you.

 

[Munchkin30]

Thanks. Isn't there one important week too??

 

[dom85]

Oh, the 15 weeks before your due date one. You have to have worked continuously for your employer for 26 weeks before the 'qualifying week', so as long as you've worked for them for a week or so before you got pregnant then you qualify for maternity leave. Then the 'qualifying weeks' are used to determine how much (if any) SMP you are entitled to. Hth

 

[treeroot]

so as long as you've worked for them for a week or so before you got pregnant then you qualify for maternity leave.

That's interesting. I guess that really restricts a woman's ability to change jobs once she's pregnant if she wants benefits. Is that correct?
In the province where I live you only have to have worked for your employer for 13 weeks before your expected due date. Or 13 weeks before you start leave if you're the Dad taking leave.

 

[Munchkin30]

Thanks hon. It's so hard to work out because I think my qualifying week starts 20th December - Chrystmas week!! So that week in inly working the last Saturday and Sunday. Do you HAVE to work that week??

 

[dom85]

Technically you're still employed even if you're not actually working that particular week so it doesn't affect your entitlement to leave (so if you had holiday or unpaid leave you're still employed by them if that makes sense?). You're out of your 'qualifying weeks' now as well so your maternity pay will be calculated on what you've already earned so you don't need to worry about it now.

 

[dom85]

so as long as you've worked for them for a week or so before you got pregnant then you qualify for maternity leave.

That's interesting. I guess that really restricts a woman's ability to change jobs once she's pregnant if she wants benefits. Is that correct?
In the province where I live you only have to have worked for your employer for 13 weeks before your expected due date. Or 13 weeks before you start leave if you're the Dad taking leave.

Yep it really does, and for Dad's here its tricky as well. My OH started a new job in August and technically he is not entitled to paternity leave but his company is allowing him 1 week anyway instead of the 2 which is something at least.