Maternity allowance
In need of some advice!! I don’t qualify for SMP so will have to receive MA, in order to get the MA I have to get a SMP1 form from my work, they say they won’t give it to me until I am actually on maternity leave? I have done some research and found out that it could take a while for the MA to be approved by the government. I spoke to work and told them this but they are insisting that I will only receive the form once I am on Mat leave… I then done some more research and found on the citizens advice website that my work should have provided me with the form 7 days after telling me I do not qualify for SMP or after giving them a date for my Mat leave. It then says that I should be contacting HMRC if work aren’t following that guidance.
Here’s where I am at… I WFH and haven’t been with the company long but have noticed a lot of odd things like having no direct contact to anyone in HR so have to go through my manager for everything so now I am afraid to state to them what they have done wrong in case they just decide to get rid of me… I had to go on Sick leave up to my Mat leave due to stress from them pestering me about appointments.
I am so upset and frustrated as I am also worried that my MA won’t be sorted and I will be left without money for a period of time 🙁
If anyone has had anything similar or just any advice I would greatly appreciate it!
TIA x
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Did they give a reason why they cannot provide you your SMP1 before May leave? It seems odd.
they just said “HR have said that’s when I will receive it and that’s how they do things” I am finding it odd too
I would go back to your manager and explain things. You cannot get MA with SMP1 Form and it takes 4weeks to get payments so that would leave you with a month of no pay if they delay the form.
No they need to give you the smp1 before
You can’t get maternity allowance without the form , make sure you get it from. Them xx
When are you due?
I can understand you not wanting to annoy them and risk anything, so I would go back to them saying you are happy to wait a bit for the form but outlining what your legal rights are and when you expect the form by. I think it will show them that you know what they can/can’t do and what is within your legal rights. But it’s not done in a way that’s like ‘I demand it NOW!’ which can annoy them. Obviously this depends on how much longer you have!
I am due on the 17th of June - I did tell them that I would need the form before I go on Mat leave numerous times but they just keep saying I’m only allowed it when I go on leave and I don’t understand why they won’t just give it to me, it’s so strange.
I would personally tell work that you have spoken to someone to ask about where/when to give the form in and they advised you the following, I would also document/record all conversations and ask them to put that they are refusing to provide you with the letter in writing, fortunately your rights are protected and you’d be entitled to sue them over unfair dismissal if they were to attempt to try and get rid of you x
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