Maternity pay query not going back to work

[mrssunshinexxx]

Hello
Hoping someone can help have read online but still not clear.
I am currently on maternity leave taking 12 months I am due back to work in June but I won't be returning.
We are planning to get pregnant again imminently if we are lucky enough but I would like to know if I will be accessible to mat pay again obviously I know I won't get the 90% of wage for the first 6 weeks but just the SMP

Thanks in advance

Depends on the amount of money you are getting in weeks 17-25 of your pregnancy as that determines the amount of SMP you get. If you are in the unpaid portion of your leavd then SMP would be £0. If you are getting SMP in those weeks then you'd get 90% of that amount as its 90% of wages or £151ish whichever is lower

@dementedpixie thanks what about maternity allowance

For maternity allowance you would need to have been earning for 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the second baby is due, so you would need to hit that point of pregnancy by March assuming you are not paid for the last 3 months of maternity leave. I think it's highly unlikely that you will qualify for it, but if you aren't working then you aren't losing anything by being on maternity leave anyway.

That's not quite accurate. OP needs to be employed for 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before the due date and have earned at least £30 each week for 13 of those 26 weeks:

In the 66 weeks before your baby’s due, you must also have been:

• employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks
• earning (or classed as earning) £30 a week or more in at least 13 weeks - the weeks do not have to be together

Thank you @dementedpixie very helpful
@Rockchick1984 I'm confused why yOu would think I wouldn't need mat pay just because I'm not going back to work

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/eligibility

@dementedpixie thank you! Not a pregnant yet so impossible to work out but will have a read and try to work out dates in theory

If you received enhanced maternity pay from employer they may want this repaid if you aren't returning.

@namechangenumber204 no just the standard smp

So you'll have been on maternity for 12 months, 3 months of those unpaid and you want to see if you can get another 12 months out of them without actually returning to work? Pretty sure you won't qualify.

@userxx sadly for your sarcastic comment we know that many women have children with small gaps and quality but some get maternity allowance instead.

I'm confused why yOu would think I wouldn't need mat pay just because I'm not going back to work

SMP isn’t a benefit. It’s payment in lieu of earnings because you are temporarily not working because you are on maternity leave. Think of it as similar to sick pay. If you are a SAHP you don’t receive sick pay if you are ill.

If you’ve quit your job you won’t have a job from which to receive maternity pay.

Maternity allowance is different.

I just meant maternity pay in general I.e something or nothing , apologies if I wasn't clear @BlairCorneliaWaldorf

So you will last receive mat pay in March, so you’ll need to work out how late you can get pregnant and still have 13 weeks of pay ie preceding March within the 66 weeks before the baby is born.

@mrssunshinexxx It was a genuine question. Yes, I'm aware how it works thanks very much, I work in payroll.

@mrssunshinexxx

Thank you *@dementedpixie* very helpful *@Rockchick1984* I'm confused why yOu would think I wouldn't need mat pay just because I'm not going back to work

Because you won't be losing wages while on maternity leave, as you won't be working? So why would you need mat pay if you are not in a different financial situation?