Statutory Maternity Pay- help needed pls

[apples82]

Ok, need reassurance...

I've read up on the direct gov website about statutory maternity pay, that it is 90% of your earnings for the first six weeks, and then £128.73 up to the nine month mark, with nowt for the last three months.

I've just had my letter from work, and they've given a breakdown saying about that "may pay will be X for six weeks, and then £128.73 until the nine month mark. They haven't said in this that it is a WEEKLY figure that is then added up and paid monthly. I've tried doing the figures on the first six week X amount, but I can't work out if that is 90% of my gross or net pay.

Can anyone tell me, are they figures they're quoting in my letter the WEEKLY amount which get paid in as a monthly wage like normal???

I was obviously expecting £128.73 a week, and now am tearing my hair out thinking that's all I get in a month???

[icravecheese]

You definitely get £128 per week SMP (I run payroll for my hubby's company & one of our staff is currently on mat leave & gets this amount every wk). Because you're paid monthly, they will probably just continue paying you monthly through your SMP period, and add up 4x£128 per month. You could request that you go down to fortnightly pay if you want the £££ more regularly....

[apples82]

Brilliant, that is a huge relief, thank you for replying, it's put my mind at ease before bed.

Thanks!

[jasmine51]

If you want to check the calculations you could go to the HMRC website and use their SMP calculator. Be warned though that its quite difficult to understand if you are not used to doing your own payroll (ie if you run your own company)