Maternity Allowance

[bednobs]

i was unable to get Maternity pay as i was working for a temp agency until the day before i had the baby. Does MA depend on partners income too, or can you get it anyway no matter how much they earn? I looked online and can't quite work it out!

[THECORBYLOON]

Folk can get MA if they're not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay from their employer. The rate they get depends on various things but a partner's income isn't one of them.

What reason were you given for not being entitled?

[hc4361]

Was you placed with the same employer for 12 weeks before your maternity leave?

[THECORBYLOON]

HC if you're thinking on an employer paying SMP, the employee has to have been employed for at least twenty-six weeks ending in the fifteenth week before the wee one's due.

[bednobs]

i never asked them! i was only working since june-octber for the temp agency, so presumed there would be no smp - shuld i have asked them?

[THECORBYLOON]

Have a wee read here, https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim

MA is paid by DWP and you must claim within three months of entitlement. Statutory Maternity Pay comes from the employer.

[THECORBYLOON]

As you weren't employed for twenty-six weeks, you'll not be entitled to SMP so claim MA instead.

[bednobs]

thanks for your help - it's rather complicated by the fact i had her early (at 34 weeks)
when does the 3 months start?

[THECORBYLOON]

In this case, the Maternity Allowance Period (MAP) began the day after the wee one's birth.

[THECORBYLOON]

You have three months from the start of the MAP.

[bednobs]

thanks so much tcl! very helpful indeed

[THECORBYLOON]

Nae bother!

[anneasquith]

Lol.