Maternity Pay on NHS

[me23]

Does anyone reading work for the NHS, I know I get
8 weeks at full pay inc;uding any smp
18 weeks at half pay reduced only where half pay plus benefits payable exceeds full pay.
13 weeks at smp
13 weeks unpaid

I'm confused especially about the 18 weeks at half pay is this with smp on top?

for example if I normally earn 1000 a month then how much would I be getting during maternity leave.
thanks in advance

[themymble]

Hi Me23,

If you got £1000 per month usually, you would get £500 per month, plus the £100 and something per week statutory mat pay, as long as that is less than your usual pay (which it would be, just.)

Had you been working for your trust less than 6 months before you got pregnant?

[louisesh]

I was due to get (my daughter was stillborn so I changed to sick pay) 8 weeks full pay

18 weeks half pay + smp

18 weeks smp

Then so many weeks unpaid , don t know how many as I was returning after 6 months in total as couldn't t afford to stay off any longer.hope this helps .

[me23]

Thankyou themymble and louisesh (am sorry for your loss)
that makes sense, I have been working for them for 4 years so I am entitled.
Glad I wont be losing out on too much money.

[anne74]

I work for the NHS and it's worth checking if you have options of how to get paid. We've just integrated with another trust and their policy states that you have 4 different options for your maternity pay:

one is as above
the next is to get half pay from the start but for longer
one is to get 52 equal instalments
and i can't remember the other one

It all works out at exactly the same amount but just gives you alternatives.

I would recommend you look into this. I think it's probably to do with Agenda for Change.

[me23]

Thanks anne74 that is interesting I need to contact HR and discuss my options.

[shocknews]

Yep, I work for the NHS and for me it is 8 wks full pay, then 18 weeks of half of your normal pay plus SMP of approx £124 per wk, which in total is your 6 months. Your next 3 months is SMP only at £124 per wk and the last 3 months if you've chosen to take your full 12 months period off is for no pay at all, not even SMP.

This is all presuming you've worked long enough for them and are returning to work for them for at least 13 weeks afterwards.

Your HR / wages dept should be able to break it into equal payments for you if you choose to do that. I haven't, as at the moment I'm only planning 6 months off, but may change my mind and didn't want to end up confusing matters with a HR and wages who barely pay you correctly after working there for 10 yrs anyway !!

[jammiedodger2]

I have just worked out my nhs mat pay and understood it as shocknews has said. Just wanted to add it's SO much beeter than what I had expected (especially compared with what I got after dd 10 years ago)
jx