Financial Support And Time Off Work

Financial Support And Taking Time Off Work

Dependent upon the gestational age of your baby there are various entitlements to financial support and taking time off work. The different provisions are set out below.

Babies under 24 weeks Unfortunately, as your baby died before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy (known as a late miscarriage), you’re not entitled to maternity benefits.

This includes Statutory Maternity Pay, Sure Start Maternity Grant and additional Healthy Start vouchers.

If you’re an employee, you’re entitled to Statutory Sick Pay and you should be able to get compassionate leave. Even though you won’t get benefits, it’s still important that you tell a few key people what’s happened so they can sort out the paperwork.

The best way to do this is usually to call or, where possible, email. If you can’t do this yourself, you might be able to get a relative or close friend to make some of the calls for you.

Talk to your employer about what they can offer you or check your contract of employment. Most employers offer compassionate leave to bereaved parents as part of their basic contract of employment or employee benefits. Your employer will also take care of cancelling any maternity or paternity pay that you might have arranged.

Your Maternity Exemption Certificate can be used until the expiry date for prescriptions in England.

Entitlements to free dental check-ups and treatment vary by country. You can use any Healthy Start vouchers you already have. If the Job Center have been organising a Sure Start Maternity Grant and/or Maternity Allowance for you, you need to tell them that you’re no longer pregnant.

Babies over 24 weeks Following the loss of your baby you would normally entitled to: • 52 weeks Maternity Leave • 2 weeks Paternity Leave • Statutory Maternity Pay – if you’re employed • Paternity Leave Pay – if you’re employed • Maternity Allowance if you’re not entitled to Statutory

Maternity pay • Talk with your employer about what you may be entitled or check your contract of employment

You may be asked for evidence to get financial support. This would be the certified certificate from the Registrars. You are still entitled to free prescriptions and NHS dental treatment for at least 12 months. Ask your Midwife for form FW8, which you fill in and they sign and send off for you.

For Neonatal Deaths You will be entitled to Child Benefit for the period from the birth until eight weeks after your baby died. You might also be able to claim tax credits until eight weeks after your baby died. Further information available on the GOV.UK website.