SMP

[JACKIEJ]

Please could somebody tell me the the qualifing period for payment of SMP. I thought that since April there was none. However the HMRC site still says 26 weeks before the 15th week of due date.

Have I got this all wrong?

Jackie

[A Marie]

Hi Jackie,

I have just checked with Croners and they state that to qualify for SMP a pregnant employee must have been continuously employed for 26 weeks or more by the end of the 15th week before her EWC and average weekly earnings equal or exceed £87 (LEL). Are you confusing the SMP with another benefit, perhaps? I think if an employee doesn't qualify for SMP they can claim something else from the State.

Anne Marie

[bluewednesday]

They can claim Maternity allowance but they still need some service (can't quite remember how much) to get it.