No contract - Maternity pay?

[Mrs H]

I have been working as a Project Co-ordinator (office based) since September last year on a casual basis either one or two days a week. I have never had a contract.  I am pregnant and due in January.  Does anyone know if I am entitled to any maternity pay? I doubt it but thought I would check.  I have been paying tax and NI obviously.

[Miss Zippy]

You will be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay if you have been employed for a continous period of 26 weeks up to and including the 15th week of the expected date of delivery (referred to as the "qualifying week").  As you have been working for over a year, assuming there have been no weeks in the last few months when you haven't been required to work, then you meet this criteria. You also need to be earning a minimum of �82 per week (which is the NI lower earnings limit) to be eligible for SMP. Just because you do not have a written contract in place does not mean you do not have the same rights as any other employee (your employer is obliged to provide you with a written statement of your terms and conditions within two months of you joining, but this is another matter). I'm assuming you are employed directly by the company, but even if you are employed via an agency, you have the same rights (provided you meet the criteria of length of service and minium weekly pay etc.)

[twiglet4frog]

as miss zippy says, everyone is entitled to SMP, the difference being whether the employer is liable or the benefits agency depending on length of employment and salary etc