I have been signed off work sick for the past 7 months, my maternity leave is due to start, can i claim smp?

Question

i have been off work sick for the past 7 months, my maternity leave is due to start, am i still eligible to claim statutory maternity pay?

Answer 1

Yes. SMP should be paid by your employer from  the 11th week before the expected date of deliverly. Contact them and tell them when this is and ask for it to go into payment.

As you have been out of work for 7 months I take it your SSP has now stopped and you are getting Incapacity Benefit. If this is the case you can remain on Incapacity as well as SMP, but any payments of SMP will be deducted from your Incapacity payments (depending on how much SMP you are entitled to this could mean that Incapacity becomes zero)

remember when baby is born to claim Child Benefit and Tax Credits