Can someone explain maternity pay?

[Mum2be5756]

I'm confused about the breakdown in my last 2 paycheques

My first paycheque made sense because adding up the Occupational Maternity Pay and the Statutory Maternity Pay equaled my monthly pay (£5k)

However since then adding up the figures in my May paycheque is £4500 and June £4700 - does anyone know how this works?

I should be getting full pay for 16 weeks

[Beerme]

Most companies when paying salary will take your annual salary and divide by 12 to pay you the same amount each month. That’s why even in shorter months such as Feb you get the same pay despite working fewer days. SMP is different and is paid in full weeks. Only full weeks are paid in each pay period.

For example (based on you being paid in arrears for each calendar month), if your maternity leave started on Monday 02 May, you will receive 4 weeks pay that month for the weeks up to 29 May. The 30th and 31st will form part of your June pay, where you will get another 4 weeks pay.

If you are receiving full pay then your company is simply topping up your SMP to match your normal weekly pay and have to follow the same pay pattern as SMP which is why it is likely to be different most months. Some months will be 5 weeks pay, most will be 4 but should all even itself out in the end. Your first paycheque was possibly a mixture of days that you had actually worked + maternity pay which made the figure closer to what you were used to.

Its very frustrating that companies don’t explain this as it can have a big impact when you’re expecting your full salary for the first few months.

[Mum2be5756]

So would June also be 4 weeks as the 5th week ends on the 1st July?
I guess it kind of adds up but not exactly which is what worries me
Will see what July amounts hold thank you @Beerme!

[Beerme]

Yes, 4 weeks for June but then 5 for July. It might be best to speak to your payroll team to see if they can go through it with you. I obviously haven’t seen your payslips so there could well be something else being deducted that’s throwing off the totals. I work in HR rather than payroll but have always had lots of questions about amounts, it’s never quite what anyone is expecting and our payslips don’t make it very clear what’s going on (I’m currently on mat leave myself)