When can I take maternity leave in new job?

Hi

Its looking like I will be made redundant soon. We were planning a baby sometime in 2012. If I get a new job that offers a top up on maternity benefit while on maternity leave - do you know if I need to be with that company x amount of time to quality for the maternity pay??

Someone once told me that you need to be with a company one year in order to get full pay on maternity (i.e. maternity benefit + employer top up) - otherwise its just the state maternity benefit. Is that true??

I know that not all employers give the top up but as I am the only earner in our house every cent is required....

Thanks

An employer is not obliged to pay Maternity Leave top up pay, so if they do, they can set any restrictions they want to.

Lots of companies do say that you have to be a year in the job to get the top up, but it is up each company to set these rules - there is no norm or standard rule.