What if I am entitled to payment from two different sources (common for Doctors in Training)?

If you started with NES during or near to the start of your pregnancy you may find that you do not qualify for all of your maternity payment from NES.  You may have the required 12 months’ service within the NHS to receive OMP (Occupational Maternity Pay) but find that you were employed for your SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay) period (26 weeks up to and into the 15th week before your EWC (Expected Week of Confinement)) by another employer and therefore will receive OMP from your new employer + SMP from another employer.  You may find that you qualify for OMP from your new employer but have a break in your employer during the 26 weeks which means that you do not qualify for SMP and therefore have to claim MA (Maternity Allowance) for Jobcentre Plus.   You may find that you do not qualify for OMP or SMP and therefore have to to claim MA only from Jobcentre Plus.

You will fall under one of the following entitlements:

1. OMP from lead employing board + SMP from another employer - When you submit your Maternity Application form you will need to give consent for your new employer to contact your previous employer to get your payment values. You will then be provided with an SMP1 form which you will need to submit along with your MATB1 certificate to your previous employer.  NES will pay your OMP payment only.  During the first 8 weeks NES will pay full pay minus the SMP payment of 90% of your salary from your previous employer for the first 6 weeks and then minus the lower rate of £145.18 for the following 2 weeks.  You should be receiving the deducted SMP amounts from your previous employer and cannot receive more than full pay.  After the first 8 weeks NES will then pay you for the following 18 weeks at half pay and then you will move on to no pay from your new employer.  You should receive SMP payments from your previous employer for up to 39 weeks.

2. OMP from NES + MA from Jobcentre Plus - You will be provided with an SMP1 form which you will need to submit along with your MATB1 certificate to Jobcentre Plus.  NES will then pay your OMP payment only.  During the first 8 weeks your employer will pay full pay minus the MA rate of £172.48 per week.  You should be receiving the deducted MA rate from Jobcentre Plus and cannot receive more than full pay. After the first 8 weeks your employer will then pay you for the following 18 weeks at half pay and then you will move on to no pay from your employer.  You should receive MA payments for up to 39 weeks.

3. MA only from Jobcentre Plus - You will be provided with an SMPL1 form which you will need to submit along with your MATB1 certificate to Jobcentre Plus.  You could get either £172.48 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for up to 39 weeks.  Please contact the Jobcentre.