Hi i was wondering if any of you can help me because i cant find any information anywhere. Basically i had my little girl in July last year and returned to work in March afetr being on maternity allowence for 39 weeks. Ive just found out im expecting again and was wondering if i can use the weeks i was getting my maternity allownce as my qualifying weeks for next time i get it?? Does that make sense? They do fall in my qualifying weeks and i would prefare to use these cause i earned more.. Thanks x x

Hi hun, I don't know the answer but all I can suggest is calling your local job centre for advice. They were really helpful with me when I was filling my forms out. Or you could contact your payroll department, as they will have to issue you with the form to say you don't qualify for SMP and might be able to advise if you qualify. Hope you can get this sorted xxx

thanks hun, ill ring cab on monday ask there advise x x

I'm guessing with you getting Mat A you weren't eligible for SMP (lucky you - I'm stuck on SMP which is £20 less than MA for me )

They class you as working for the duration of your maternity leave so I dont see why these weeks couldnt be used for the next one if you returned to work for the same company as you were working for before Mat leave...

However if you started working after receiving MA (and didnt work before for any period of time - you were woking at some point to qualify for MA... ) I dont think you can count them...

Did that make any sense?

Best thing to do would be to ask your boss or HR dept and see what they say, or better yet ring the Benefits helpline and see what they say when you've explained it to them... they should be able to tell you what will be counted and what wont...

xxx

MUMMYSTEPHE

Thanks for your reply, ive worked for the same company for 3 years now and returned there after my maternity leave finished.
I know what you mean about smp. I would have got alot lower but luckily i was ill on my qualifying weeks, so wasnt entitled to it. I was worried at the time, but it worked out for the best x x