sick leave and mat leave query

[umbrella]

hi not really an issue but a query. I'm currently off sick and have been since 25th Jan 13. I'm hopeful to go back next week to work. circumstances of being sick was from a devastating miscarriage which had alot of traumatic after effects and impacted on my mental health work are aware of the loss. now as I said I'm hoping to return next week but have found myself again pregnant and due in January 2014. my work has a policy of paying maternity leave at 3 month's full pay 3 months half pay and then 3 months Ssp. the only catch is any sickness taken within a year is deducted from the maternity. our sickness policy is 28 weeks sickness 13 weeks full pay 13 weeks half pay and rest Ssp. now I'm not expecting to be paid fully the pregnancy wasn't planned but I'm happy due to the loss earlier. I'm just wondering what I should get as minimum for maternity leave. I've been of sick around 18 weeks and as the baby is due January and my year of being returning to work from sick will be may 14.

[madamecake]

Do you mean what you should get as maternity leave (time off) or maternity pay?
If it is the former, your sick leave will have no effect on the amount of leave you can take as this is a legal entitlement. So you can take up to 12 months maternity leave.

I guess that the sick leave can effect your maternity pay as they are enhancing your SMP, but they can not reduce this to less than the first 6 weeks at 90% of your average salary and then 33 weeks at SMP.

[madamecake]

P.S. Meant to say sorry for your loss, and congratulations on your pregnancy

[umbrella]

yes I did mean in terms of pay :) I work part time and recieve per week 159 pounds. what would I recieve for maternity with just statutory maternity pay? I am right I'm thinking it's 39 weeks for stat maternity leave?
thanks for the reply and the congrats still in a bit of shock about it :-)

[madamecake]

Statutory maternity pay would be 6 weeks at £143 (90% of your wages) then the next 33 weeks at £136.78 a week. So I think overall this may pay better than your company's enhanced pay, because of the 3 months at half pay, and they will have to pay you the smp weekly rate n
I wouldn't worry too much about them deducting money for sick leave as I doesn't lool like it will make much difference financially.