Can i get mat leave and SMP after unpaid leave

[tostaky]

If atfer my maternity leave i asked for a sabbatical holiday (unpaid leave for one year) and then got pregnant again. Would i qualify for mat leave and smp again even though i havent been to work since my 1st mat leave?

[flowerybeanbag]

You would qualify for maternity leave as you would still be employed.

You might not get any SMP as that is calculated based on an average of your earnings over an 8 week period during your pregnancy, from week 17 to week 25. So if you were still on your unpaid leave then, you wouldn't qualify for SMP.

[tostaky]

Thanks!

[RibenaBerry]

Depends how the sabbatical is set up. If it is a true sabbatical, you remain an employee throughout and you would have all the normal maternity leave rights. Pay would work as Flowery says. If you have no pay in the reference period between 17 and 25 weeks, you couldn't get SMP either.