calling all mums in spain. Maternity pay.

[lucy5]

Hi just wanted advice on maternity pay. I am not preggers but am trying to work out when to start trying. I am a school teacher and am trying to work it to my benefit e.g summer hols then maternity leave. I dont intend going back to work afterwards, I dont know if thats relevant or not. Just reread this and it sounds very calculating, which I suppose it is, hahaha!

[lucy5]

Hola!

[SenoraPostrophe]

your mat pay is based on your contributions level. if you pay minimum (as I do because I'm self employed) then it is about E700-odd per month.

I think you multiply the amount you contribute every month (both what you and your employer pay) by 3.5 to get your monthly mat pay.

Maternity pay is for 16 weeks and that's it. if you can "finish your contract" just as your mat leave starts you will also be entitled to 16 weeks unemployment benefit after your mat leave runs out, but otherwise you're on your own after the 16 weeks.

Saying all that by the sounds of it, I would be very surprised if your school doesn't find a way of weasling out of paying you for the summer hols if you're going on mat leave after. Just a thought.

[lucy5]

Thanks, will look into it. I'm not hopeful as today, pregnant woman sacked today for spurious reasons. God what a despicable organisation i work for. Cant wait to get out.

[SenoraPostrophe]

It's rife in Spain - I have a friend who was sacked as she went on maternity leave too.

BUT it does mean you can claim unemployment after your mat pay - it's lower than maternity pay but enough to go some way to make up for it.

[lucy5]

This poor girl never even made it to maternity leave. It doesnt really matter to me, for once we will be financially ok, I would just like to get as much as I can out of the bastards. Not that i'm bitter!