Maternity pay and time off

Whatever the agency is telling you, they are responsible for paying you Statutory Maternity Pay and this lasts for 18 weeks. You will not, however, be entitled to paid time off for antenatal care. You are also legally entitled to the 20 days’ annual leave, which is available to all workers and comes from the Working Time Regulations. Your agency should be aware of this. You need to ask them for a form explaining why you are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. If you are not eligible you should ask your local benefits agency whether you can apply for Incapacity Benefit.

See also articles on statutory maternity pay and incapacity benefit.

See also the Maternity Alliance factsheets: ‘Agency workers and Maternity Rights’ and ‘Money for Mothers and Babies’.