work full time but only contracted for part time - will this affect my maternity pay?

[AlphaBeta2012]

hi I am 20 weeks pregnant and work for a company where i was originally contracted to 30 hrs a week, but have been working full time since June. I go on maternity leave in May. The director (who also happens to be my brother) thinks I will only be paid maternity pay on my contracted hours but i thought it was based on your last 3 mths prior to mat leave? Can anyone advise?

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

I am sure they base maternity pay in the actual wages you got paid rather than what's in your contract

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

www.gov.uk/statutory-maternity-pay/overview - has a maternity pay calculator to work out how much you will get

[AlphaBeta2012]

Thanks dishwasher I am hoping that is the case. DH work situation has drastically changed since we discovered pregnancy and I am really worried about money!

[dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru]

www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/commonmaternitypayquestions.pdf - this leaflet says:

What is Statutory Maternity Pay?
SMP is paid for 39 weeks. SMP is paid at two
rates: for the first six weeks you get 90% of
your average pay. The average is calculated
from the pay you actually received in the eight
weeks or two months up to the last pay day
before the end of the qualifying week. After
that you get a flat rate of £135.45 per week
(April 2012 ? April 2013) for 33 weeks or 90%
of your average earnings if that is less

[AlphaBeta2012]

Perfect - thanks!

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

If they pay anything over and above statutory then they set the terms for that and you'll need to check their policy. SMP is calculated on average earnings.