Maternity Leave, Statutory Maternity Pay.....HELP! Havent got a clue!!

ellie27 · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:00 PM

As the title suggests I am pretty clueless!!

I work full time, permanent, been working for my employer for the last few years - am a school teacher - so I know I am entitled to Maternity leave.

I have been reading up on the direct.gov site about Statutory Maternity Pay - and it makes no sense - is this basically your work paying you while you are off?

I am writing my letter to employer to notify when I want to start Maternity leave- surely I dont have to ask for SMP? They will just start paying me when I leave?

Me and OH both work full-time and earn a high salary so I dont think I can claim any benefits or anything. I had a feeling there was something that everyone can claim if they had children - tax credit/child benefit or something? We havent got a clue!

Thanks

Celesse · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:16 PM

Everyone can claim Child Benefit, which is £20 a week for the first baby, less for second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie27

I have been reading up on the direct.gov site about Statutory Maternity Pay - and it makes no sense - is this basically your work paying you while you are off?

SMP is £123 from your work or 9/10 of a weeks pay for first 6 weeks. I work for Local Government who top up the £123 by 6 weeks salary divided by 12, 20 or 33 weeks, from week 7.

Dream.A.Dream · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:18 PM

You can claim child benefit, which is £20 per week.

SMP wise you need to inform your employer in writing when you want them to start paying your maternity pay and you will need to provide your MATB1 form i think, which midwife will give you at 25 weeks. If you're only entitled to basic SMP then you get 6 weeks at 90% of earnings, followed by 33 weeks at £123.12 (or something random). You don't have to take the full nine months. You can also take a further 3 months unpaid.

Some employers pay "employers maternity pay" on top, which means they may pay you extra, but a lot don't. As far as I am aware the money goes into your account as if it's from your employer, but it's actually paid by the government, as they government pays it to your employer and then they pay it to you.

xx

ETA: you will also be paid it as you currently receive your pay, for examply last day of month into bank account.

ellie27 · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celesse

Everyone can claim Child Benefit, which is £20 a week for the first baby, less for second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie27

I have been reading up on the direct.gov site about Statutory Maternity Pay - and it makes no sense - is this basically your work paying you while you are off?

SMP is £123 from your work or 9/10 of a weeks pay for first 6 weeks. I work for Local Government who top up the £123 by 6 weeks salary divided by 12, 20 or 33 weeks, from week 7.

The SMP is whichever of the two is the highest I am guessing? - the £123 or 90% wkly wage?

Dream.A.Dream · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celesse

Everyone can claim Child Benefit, which is £20 a week for the first baby, less for second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie27

I have been reading up on the direct.gov site about Statutory Maternity Pay - and it makes no sense - is this basically your work paying you while you are off?

SMP is £123 from your work or 9/10 of a weeks pay for first 6 weeks. I work for Local Government who top up the £123 by 6 weeks salary divided by 12, 20 or 33 weeks, from week 7.

The SMP is whichever of the two is the highest I am guessing? - the £123 or 90% wkly wage?

The first six weeks is which is highest...the next 33 are whichever is lowest xx

Eg, for me the first six weeks will amount to about £1400 ish, then it'll go down to the £123 per week, so around an average of £500 per month or there abouts, but that is taxable.

ellie27 · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:22 PM

So there is a basic SMP of 90% or some employers pay a bit more 'employers statutory pay' on top? How do you know if you will get the 'bit extra'?

Dream.A.Dream · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:24 PM

Should be in your contract whether or not the company offers it xx

ellie27 · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:25 PM

So after 90% for 6wks it goes way down to just £123 a week????? I though it went to half-pay or something??

Oh my, how are you supposed to live on £123 a week?!?!?! Better start saving now!

Dream.A.Dream · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellie27

So after 90% for 6wks it goes way down to just £123 a week????? I though it went to half-pay or something??

Oh my, how are you supposed to live on £123 a week?!?!?! Better start saving now!

Unfortunately if your employer doesn't offer anything then it's £123 a week. Which is also taxable and NI needs paying out of

My OH just got let go from work too, so he HAS to find a job before Jan or we'll end up homeless xx

ellie27 · Sep 17th, 2009, 14:29 PM

I better dig out my contract!

Thanks for all your help!

Sorry to hear about your OH- I do hope your OH finds work soon x

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:00 PM	#1
ellie27 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: uk Posts: 8,703	Maternity Leave, Statutory Maternity Pay.....HELP! Havent got a clue!! As the title suggests I am pretty clueless!! I work full time, permanent, been working for my employer for the last few years - am a school teacher - so I know I am entitled to Maternity leave. I have been reading up on the direct.gov site about Statutory Maternity Pay - and it makes no sense - is this basically your work paying you while you are off? I am writing my letter to employer to notify when I want to start Maternity leave- surely I dont have to ask for SMP? They will just start paying me when I leave? Me and OH both work full-time and earn a high salary so I dont think I can claim any benefits or anything. I had a feeling there was something that everyone can claim if they had children - tax credit/child benefit or something? We havent got a clue! Thanks

Status: Offline

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:18 PM	#3
Dream.A.Dream Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 18,943	You can claim child benefit, which is £20 per week. SMP wise you need to inform your employer in writing when you want them to start paying your maternity pay and you will need to provide your MATB1 form i think, which midwife will give you at 25 weeks. If you're only entitled to basic SMP then you get 6 weeks at 90% of earnings, followed by 33 weeks at £123.12 (or something random). You don't have to take the full nine months. You can also take a further 3 months unpaid. Some employers pay "employers maternity pay" on top, which means they may pay you extra, but a lot don't. As far as I am aware the money goes into your account as if it's from your employer, but it's actually paid by the government, as they government pays it to your employer and then they pay it to you. xx ETA: you will also be paid it as you currently receive your pay, for examply last day of month into bank account.

Status: Offline

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:22 PM	#6
ellie27 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: uk Posts: 8,703	So there is a basic SMP of 90% or some employers pay a bit more 'employers statutory pay' on top? How do you know if you will get the 'bit extra'?

Status: Offline

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:24 PM	#7
Dream.A.Dream Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Elite Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: England Posts: 18,943	Should be in your contract whether or not the company offers it xx

Status: Offline

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:25 PM	#8
ellie27 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: uk Posts: 8,703	So after 90% for 6wks it goes way down to just £123 a week????? I though it went to half-pay or something?? Oh my, how are you supposed to live on £123 a week?!?!?! Better start saving now!

Status: Offline

Sep 17th, 2009, 14:29 PM	#10
ellie27 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: uk Posts: 8,703	I better dig out my contract! Thanks for all your help! Sorry to hear about your OH- I do hope your OH finds work soon x

Status: Offline

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