SMP

Yeah I've always worked. I'm going to try and speak to work and see what they say cause if not I need to apply as soon as possible I need to know what I'm getting as I thought I got SMP

How long have you worked for your company? I’m pretty sure so long as you’ve worked there for X amount of time you’re entitled (it’s around 6 months)

@Holly I started on the 19th June at my current company

I’m the same too I found out the same week I started my new job in July that I was pregnant…not sure if I’ll get the pay or not as hasn’t really been spoke about x

@Laura Nicholson sorry Laura just seen it’s in your original post 🤦‍♀️ I’m 99.9% you’re fine! As you’ll have worked 26 weeks by then. If you’ve any doubts and are struggling to get answers, give ACAS a call and they’ll be able to tell you everything and are a 100% reliable source, plus really easy to get through to :) anythjng I’ve ever gotten a bit stuck with, with an employer I’ve called them and they’ve been fab x

@Holly yeah I'm going to speak to my employer soon as I can about this as to get MA I will need to apply on 3rd November

I think it will depend on your employer. I know that mine is 26 weeks and I qualify for the maternity pay which they do differently as I’ll get full pay for 6 months then SMP for the rest. I think my law it is well before that and as above you’d need to have started in May however, doesn’t mean your employer doesn’t have their own policy as it’s super common for them to x

Just to add to the above as I don't think I explained it that well lol. You have to have worked 26 weeks prior to the 15th week before you give birth/due date to qualify for SMP. Which is why it says you must have worked continuously between 11th May and 27th October as these are the 26 weeks before your 15th week. You essentially have to have worked for your company for 41 weeks to qualify so you already had to have been working for them when you conceived basically. Some companies may pay you occupational maternity pay depending on their policies however your employer claim 92% of the SMP back from the government so unless the government website say you are entitled to it, which in this case does not look like it, then they are unlikely to pay it.

However to qualify for MA you have to have worked 26 weeks between 5th november 2023 and 8th feb 2025 so you should qualify for this. This is what I'll be doing as like I said, I don't qualify for SMP either. I used to work in payroll so I have some background with this kind of thing as I used to do it before I went on maternity leave with my first. But your employer has to fill out the SMP1 form to explain why you do not qualify for SMP.