Maternity pay for dummies

[kitkat2024]

NC for this.

Please can someone explain maternity pay to me like I'm 5? I'm not really getting it.

I am currently on a career break to complete a qualification and will return to work in March 2025. I am keen to start TTC early next year due to my age (35 in June). If, for argument's sake, I get pregnant in January next year (unlikely I know!) and the baby is due in September/October, I'll have worked for my employer post career break for 7ish months - would I be entitled to statutory maternity pay? How much would that be? More than maternity allowance?

Does this even make sense? Sorry! I'm tying myself up in knots about this as finances are something I do worry about.

No usually for OMP it a year

In my sector it's 1 year service 11 weeks before EWC

EWC is the Sunday before due date to the Saturday after

So basically 63 weeks service at birth -40 weeks = TTC 23 weeks after you start. Roughly 6 months

@liquidsquidli my continuous service isn't affected by my career break though?

I think that is what you need to find out.

I don't think it is possible to find this out with referring the specific of your sabbatical contract.

How have you support yourself during your career break?Have you had employment benefits or pay?

Have you googled how will a sabbatical affect my entitlement to maternity pay?

@liquidsquidli I have a bursary for my course, when I have googled there have been varying answers. I'm so confused!

Assuming your first day of employment is protected during you career break and as long as you have income in the 15 week before EWC you should have full entitlement to any maternity pay.

conceive 1 jan
Go back March
Week 25 qualifying week on June
Week 40 baby born sept

As long as you are less than 25 week pregnant when you go back to hit the qualifying week or pay will be calculate based on 0 income.

BUT if your employment period restarts from returning to work in march you would have to wait a week before conceiving. (I can't see why this would be the case if you have CS)

I'm not a lawyer or HR or payroll and am in no way qualified other than having to make similar decisions my self!!

@liquidsquidli thank you! I have done a lot of reading this evening and I think you're right - I have continuous service so as long as I am earning the right amount before the qualifying week I should be fine. They don't make it easy do they?!!