Maternity Pay Help Understanding

[EMRJ]

Hi,

I’m wondering if anyone can unpick the maternity package my employer offers.

It says I get 13 weeks up to 100% of my usual average weekly pay for the first 13
weeks maternity leave, followed by up to 50% of my usual average weekly pay for the
subsequent 13 weeks' maternity leave. After the 26 weeks it will be paid at SMP rate for weeks 27-39.

Enhanced payments will include statutory
maternity payments, which means the Company will top up the difference between Statutory
and what the colleague’s usual 100% or 50% pay would be.

Just to clarify, when it goes to 50% does mean I would receive my half pay and then SMP on top or the 50% would be made up of SMP too.

For context I earn £1530 a month working part time after tax, NI and pension.

Thanks for your help!

50% should include the SMP, you won’t get that on top.

I have no idea if that's a quote from the policy above but you need to check the exact wording - on the basis of what you say though it's 50% inclusive of SMP.

My understanding is you will receive the 50% - that will be made up of SMP plus whatever they need to add on to that to bring it up to the 50%.

What's the actual wording of the 50% part?

Some may pay 50% plus smp whereas if the wording says they make it up to 50% then that would mean smp topped up to 50% of wages.

@CarrotParrot @dementedpixie the wording is copied from the policy. I agree it’s not overly clear or the right term to use!

I think basically I will receive 50% after the first 13 weeks, as my earnings at 50% are basically what SMP amounts too after deductions.

"Enhanced payments will include statutory
maternity payments, which means the Company will top up the difference between Statutory and what the colleague’s usual 100% or 50% pay would be", if that's the bit that is a quote, is very clear that it's inclusive of SMP so you will be getting 50% of your usual pay.

Remember that your deductions will also be going down as you won't be earning as much in the tax year.