maternity allowance

[Vics128]

Am i still entitled to the government payed maternity allowance if I hand my notice in 3 weeks before it is due to start? (this is also three weeks before my due date?)

[redcrx]

not sure about that one. But cant you not take maternity leave early and then decide not to return to work after babys born? that way you will get paid.

[eyebrows]

just stick it6 out an get paid materanitl leave from your company?

[Vics128]

Well I would, but they haved caused a fuss because i ate my lunch sat outside the office, while I was working alone, the manager came in and suspended me...!! and now he wants me to go in for a disaplinery. I dont really want to go at 37 weeks pregnant, for the sake of 3 days wages (I only work one day a week there)

[eyebrows]

do it, they cant fire you.....char, for 3 weeks pay id just do it, say sorry, swallow some humble pie and get paid...

[redcrx]

try calling ACAS for advice. Im not sure what the situation is regarding maternity pay if you are unemployed voluntarily.

[Vics128]

cheers guys, I think they could get rid of me though, im not on maternity yet, and I think they are trying to get rid of my job, of give it to someone else..

[radiogaga]

they cannot fire you, if they did it would have been very short sighted of them.
pregnant women have so many rights , no company would be stupid enough to say you could not do your job regardless if that was the case or not.
they cannot give your job away, they are bound by legislation to provide you with a job identical or on the same skill level you were at before you went on mat leave.
im not so good with links but look up direct gov, pregnancy leave and womans rights.
dont stress about this as its not good for you or baby!!
if it suits you maybe you could go on sick leave as this is distressing.

[moomintroll1]

As you only work one day a week, you are not (as I'm sure you are aware but for other's benefit) entitled to SMP.

However, you probably qualify for Maternity Allowance.

You must have been in employment for 26 of the 66 weeks up to your due date to qualify for Maternity Allowance. In addition, your average weekly earnings for 13 of those 66 weeks has to be at least �30.

You can choose which 13 of those weeks are used in calculating the average, so you can choose the highest paid weeks.

The fact you have quit your job doesn't stop you from claiming MA. However, as you were working for them in the 26th week of pregnancy, you should have received a form SMP1 telling you that they couldn't pay you SMP. You will need this to claim MA. You can get a claim form from the Jobcentre or download one from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/ma1. pdf.

You are entitled to claim MA from 11 weeks before your due date, so get your claim in straight away as you could already have been getting the money!