SMP + enhanced maternity pay

[Mishmishmish]

Hello,
Trying to do some income forecasting over the next few months. My company offers an enhanced maternity pay/package - say 3 months full pay then onto SMP for the remainder of leave. Does regular SMP run alongside the company's own enhanced maternity pay so you get both? Some stuff online seemed to suggest so but no clear answer.
Thanks

[flowery]

The terms and conditions of any employer's enhanced maternity package are entirely up to them, which is why there is no clear answer online.

Normally enhanced packages are inclusive of SMP entitlement, but not always. Your employer's policy and/or the letter they send you confirming your maternity pay details should be clear. But it would seem very unlikely they'd pay you SMP on top of full pay...! In most cases where SMP is not included, the enhanced package is expressed as enhanced pay + SMP unless this exceeds full pay.

[IckleWicklePumperNickle]

We get 4 months full pay. 2 months 90% pay and then 6m SMP.

[BananaShit]

There would be nothing to stop a company offering SMP the legal minimum plus topping you up to the same amount, but it seems strange. Not come across it before.

[Mishmishmish]

Thank you!

[AccrualIntentions]

Typically you can't receive more in maternity pay (including employer top up) than your normal pay. I get 6 weeks pay in addition to SMP and it's spread over 12, 18 or 33 weeks to avoid this.

[Sassifrass]

My experience -first 6weeks SMP topped up so that 'normal' full pay received. Then 6weeks half pay plus the SMP. Followed by the remaining weeks of SMP entitlement only. Total 39 weeks SMP.
It would be unusual for more than full pay to be paid I would imagine.

[Gorgosparta]

Its usually smp and then the company top it up so you get your usual amount.

It would be unlikely that you come out with both and get paid more.

[purplepinny]

Our enhanced package is either 4 months full pay then only SMP (usually taken by mums who return after 4 months) OR 2 months full pay then 4 months half pay + SMP on top, then 3 months SMP only.

[firsttimemum9x]

Can someone help me out please?

My company offers enhanced pay for the first 18 weeks, this is based on the below;

100% of average earnings of maternity leave (inclusive of SMP).

Would someone be able to explain to me how my pay would be worked out please? Sorry if I sound thick!

Do people perceive this as my monthly pay + SMP on top, which surely cannot be the case as I would be getting more than my normal monthly pay!

Thank you and sorry for my stupid question! X

[mumofbun]

@firsttimemum9x if you get paid a salary then your pay will be the same for the first 18 weeks (4.5 months). It is inclusive of SMP which means that is included not extra.

[firsttimemum9x]

Thank you!

[mumofbun]

@firsttimemum9x Just be aware, depending on when you go off, you might have some months where you have less than the full month of full pay as it's done in weeks.

[firsttimemum9x]

Ah ok I didn’t think of that actually, I’m only 10 weeks at the moment and my work won’t do calculations until 20 weeks, so just trying to get a rough figure myself, so I roughly know when to go back as I definitely don’t think I could do the full year.

[mumofbun]

@firsttimemum9x i did that too, remember to include your holidays as i've managed to add on a few weeks at the end which would be full paid due to accrued leave. Also if you'll need childcare when you go back then include that - i thought i'd only take of 6-9 months but ended up once i included childcare costs and the holidays that i could take almost a year and be around the same financially.

[welshladywhois40]

With my company once I have given dates in they gave me a financial forecast of what I would receive including my enhanced and smp.

Don't forget to ask about how holidays and bank holidays will work. I got paid out for both so I took as little holiday as possible pre mat leave