Pregnancy and sickness benefits. Rules for payment of benefits in the UK

Sick pay in the UK to people who are employed by an employer or employment agency. This is a statutorily guaranteed allowance, and the obligation to pay it rests with the employer. Sick leave can be drawn for a maximum of 28 weeks per year. The exception is pregnant women who are on sick leave for reasons directly related to the pregnancy. Then the days of incapacity are counted separately.

Who is entitled to sick pay during pregnancy?

Pregnancy in the UK is treated as a physiological condition, so a woman is not entitled to sick leave because of it. A pregnant woman, on the other hand, can go on sick leave when she becomes ill or develops pregnancy-related ailments that prevent her from working. Sick pay in the UK is called Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

Pregnancy sickness benefit is available to a woman who:

• Is employed by the employer under an employment contract;
• is employed for a minimum of 8 weeks (unless this period is shorter in the contract with the employer);
• is on leave for more than 4 working days;
• will inform the employer of the illness within 7 days;
• He earns at least £116 a week.

Sick pay in the UK is not available to women who are on Maternity Leave. A pregnant woman can go for it as early as 11 weeks before her due date. She is then entitled to receive maternity benefits.

Polish citizens have the same right to receive sickness benefits in the UK as residents of other countries. It is enough that they are legally employed and meet certain requirements. No woman, moreover, can be fired from her job due to sick leave during pregnancy. Such a situation is treated as gender discrimination, which involves punishing the employer.

See also: How to deal with illness during pregnancy?

The amount of sick pay during pregnancy in the UK

The amount of pregnancy sick pay that women employed in the UK are entitled to is fixed and does not depend on earnings. In 2019, each pregnant woman receives £94.25 per week. The employer can pay it in full once a month or in tranches every 7 days (a matter to be determined individually with the employer).

Many workplaces are eligible for additional assistance programs that guarantee payment of benefits over and above the SSP. Then how much sick pay during pregnancy depends on the arrangement with the employer. It is important that in no case can the amount be less than £94.25 per week.

Sick pay in the UK is paid by the employer for no more than 28 weeks a year. However, for pregnant women, days of sick leave due to pregnancy-related ailments are counted separately. As a result, the benefit period is extended.

What else is a working pregnant woman entitled to?

A pregnant woman who works in England has the right to have her employer adapt her workstation to the condition she is currently in. If he cannot do so, he should send the woman on leave, during which he pays her salary. In addition, pregnant women are entitled to free hours for follow-up visits to the midwife, examinations or birthing school classes. Interestingly, in the UK, a woman is required to inform her employer of her pregnancy no later than 15 weeks before giving birth. Its date can be found on the MAT B1 certificate issued by the midwife. 

Every pregnant woman in the UK is entitled to maternity leave and a one-time welfare payment of £500. In order to receive it, it is necessary to submit the appropriate application by the deadline.

See also: Postpartum depression while in the UK