You may be wondering how your maternity leave and pay will be calculated if you have more than one job and you will find the answers here!
Am I Entitled To Statutory Maternity Pay?
The first step is to check that you satisfy the eligibility criteria for each job that you have.
There are three things to consider:
Qualifying Period
You must have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’, which is the 15th week before the expected date of the birth of your baby (or as otherwise referred to as the end of the 25th week of pregnancy) in order to qualify for statutory maternity pay (SMP).
Notice
You must ensure that you give your employer the correct notice in order to be eligible for SMP; you must give your employer 28 days’ notice of the date you wish to start your SMP.
Earnings
You must earn at least £123 a week (gross) in an eight week ‘relevant period’.
If you meet the above criteria for each job that you have, then you can claim SMP from each employer. You can only get one MATB1 form from your midwife, so if you do qualify for SMP from more than one employer, give the MATB1 form to one, and the other employer(s) will let you know what alternative medical evidence is acceptable for them to begin paying your SMP.
I Am Not Entitled to SMP Because I Don’t Meet the Criteria. Am I Eligible for Maternity Allowance?
You may be entitled to Maternity Allowance (MA) if you are not entitled to SMP.
You can get MA if either of the below apply:
You have been registered as self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due; or
You have been employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your baby is due. You must also earn at least £30 per week in at least 13 weeks of your employment. These 13 weeks do not have to be consecutive.
Maternity Leave
Statutory maternity leave comprises of ordinary leave and additional leave. Both are 26 weeks each, equating to a total of 52 weeks leave. You do not have to take 52 weeks, but you must take at least two weeks leave after your baby is born (this is a mandatory six weeks leave if you work in a factory). The earliest you can start maternity leave is 11 weeks before your baby is due to be born.
When Do You Start Maternity Leave if You Have More Than One Employer?
Each job you have is independent from one another, therefore meaning you can begin and end each leave at different times.
Common Questions
Q: I am eligible for SMP from one employer but am not eligible/am self-employed in my other job. Can I claim MA from the other job whilst getting SMP from the other?
A: Unfortunately, you are not able to claim MA and SMP at the same time. Therefore, you will only be receiving SMP from that one employer, and nothing on behalf of the other.
Q: I have two jobs but only get SMP from one job. Can I continue working in my secondary job whilst receiving SMP from my other employer?
A: Yes, you can continue working in the job for which you are not receiving maternity pay because these jobs are independent from one another. Receiving SMP from one employer will not affect your work for your other employer.
