Paying back maternity pay

[xxhxx]

Does anybody know the rules around this?

I am PT at the minute (currently on maternity) my work aren't willing to change my hours so I have to work 9:30-4:30. Physically it is impossible for me to get from school at 8am to drop my eldest off , in to the city centre to park up, drop my baby off and get in to work before 9:30. We have no parking so there is a walk involved. My partner works shifts so doesn't have the option to drop the kids off. Pick up is the same. 4:30 to then pick up the baby, get to her car and drive in rush hour out of the city to school before 6. I won't get there until at least 6:30pm.

Ideally I would prefer not to go back. I've read that you have to pay back your maternity pay if you do not go back for 3 months. Does this have to be paid back in full in one go? Are there any ways to get around this.

It depends on your contract and the maternity pay policy at your work.

If it's statutory maternity pay you received then you do not need to return to work and 'pay it back'.

If you received anything over and above smp then that extra amount may be conditional on returning but that has to be stated upfront. Check the letter you received when you went on ml. If you only received smp it won't be repayable.

You could go back take holidays owes and then parental leave - it should cover most of your 3 months

Is this NHS? If so, you can get a different NHS job, and provided it is continuous service, I believe you don’t have to pay it back.

If it is an enhanced package, then yes, they can ask you to pay it back. If it is statutory, then no you don't.

My company paid me statutory while I was off, then gave me an extra 4 months full pay on return, split so I got half on return and half if I was still there after 6 months.

You can keep the statutory maternity pay (the small amount the government pays) but may have to pay back any extra maternity pay your employer has given you, this will be as set out in your contract. You should have been sent all this info by your employer when they responded to your MAT B1, but if not you need to ask for a copy of their terms and conditions.