Maternity pay rules

[Floopy21]

Hi, Just wondered if anyone can advise? Do you have to pay back any money your company gives you above the 6 week at 90% pay, then SMP if you don't go back to your job?

Many thanks.

It all depends on what your contact says about additional maternity pay...may also be called company maternity pay/coccupational maternity pay.

If its not mentioned I reckon they will have problems getting money back- do you have a copy of your contract/policy?

Hi OADCB,
I do & it's got nothing about maternity leave/pay in it. I don't think anyone from my company has ever been on maternity before. I don't want to accept anything I may have to pay back when we're completely skint!

How do you feel about returning to work?

Are you likely to?

Maybe accept the money and put it in savings- Then if you dont return you have it ready to pay back?

Also may be worhwhile posting in employment issues topic about this.

I have no intention of going back to that job; too far away & I haven't been happy there for a while. I would, however, work from home a couple of days a week if they let me. Good idea about the savings. I guess it's difficult to know as there's no precident in the company.

Thanks very much for your help. Much appreciated.

I think if you decide not to return you only have to pay back the extra money but you don't pay the SMP

sorry to hijack but it is related!

Assuming you need to pay it back, would you pay back the amount you actually received or the amount they paid? ie with or without tax?

also, I've been sent a letter re mine and have to sign and return it to confirm my agreement to the terms (one of which is paying back the extra if i don't return). What happens if I don't sign? I'm v likely to go back but just wondered

Floopy first of all you have been paid is the statutory minimum maternity pay. So if you do not return to work you can not be asked to repay it. It is only additional maternity pay that you can be asked to repay.