Maternity pay while working?

[MummyPiggy87]

After reading the thread below its got me thinking, and there's no useful info online.
I'm a carer I'm on a zero hour contract but do around 25-30 hours a week usually, I'm guessing I'll only be entitled to statutory maternity pay, and also what happens if I want to do a few weekends or evenings? Will I lose the maternity pay? Sorry so many questions.

[LorryHen]

You can work a maximum of 10 days before losing maternity pay I think.

Is it maternity pay from your employer or smp?

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

It'll depend on how much you earn in your qualifying weeks, so it might be worth your while to do extra shifts during those. Certainly don't do zero hours during those weeks if you can help it
You can do ten keeping in touch days, but both employer and employee have to agree to them.

[Whatabout]

You can do up to ten keeping in touch days whilst on maternity leave.

[MummyPiggy87]

Oh right, thank you.
I can usually make the hours up at the weekend anyway.
I'm not actually sure about the maternity pay, when I had statutory sick pay I handed the note from my GP to my work and they paid me but out it on the payslip as SSP. So I gather it'll be the same. I thought SMP was I fixed rate I didn't realise it's based on your earnings

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Maternity action is a great website for explaining it all. On SMP the first 6 weeks are 90% pay and the remaining weeks are around 138 per week or 90% pay, whichever is the lower. This is all calculated based on your qualifying weeks.
I've seen a few posters on here that have got bonuses during their qualifying weeks and some that were on sick leave. It can make quite a difference, especially to the first 6 weeks pay

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant-and-benefits/common-maternity-pay-questions/

[Bellabutterfly2014]

Hi Mummypiggy, I did some temping at my local job centre afew years back and they used to be really good at giving advice about any kind of benefits you're entitled to including maternity allowance and anything else you are allowed to claim. I'd go and see them see what they say, nothing ventured nothing gained x

[MummyPiggy87]

Thank you both very much that's really helpful, surprised at how low it is but hey ho, bloody zero hour contact will probably do me over but we'll see!

[Bellabutterfly2014]

Zero hours contracts need banning - I have 2 friends on them, one is a cleaner for a large cleaning firm and one works in retail and both of them desperately hunting for jobs with "normal" contracts.
I don't like my job much and plan to job hunt while on maternity leave so that I don't have to go back!!!!! X

[ARV1981]

The qualifying week is 15 weeks before your due date.

[MummyPiggy87]

I know bella I hate it. I've been with my firm for 8 years and after about 3 years they switched to zero hour and they give me whatever work they feel like! Which is terrible when there's not a lot and you've got rent and bills to pay!
And thanks arv I'll keep that in mind x

[Bellabutterfly2014]

One of my friends - the one who works in retail can literally get 8 hours or 40 hours - but as you say very difficult to budget for rent and bills and last year they said she'd received too many tax credits so she's now paying them back so bit of a nightmare for her.
As I said I'm putting my feels out while I'm on mat leave - I'm not on zero hours but just don't want to go back there xxxx

[artisanroast]

If you look on the inland revenue website there is a bit on being self-employed. If you are self employed it doesn't affect your stat maternity leave after a certain period (I think it's 8 weeks).

Have a look though because I can't remember exactly but there is a difference if you could get carer hours self-employed (ie not zero hours contract)

xx