Maternity leave and benefits

[lcb93]

Hi All

I wondered if you could help with a couple of questions. Could anyone confirm that if I get 6 months full pay, the next 3 months would be statutory and the next 3 months after that would be unpaid?

Could anyone also let me know what benefits I am entitled to, I know about child benefit but do you get 0 - 3 years tax free childcare and then from 3 years you get 30 hours free?

Thank you! x

No one can tell you what benefits you are entitled to on that information it very much depends on your individual family circumstances.

Yes, correct.

And yes correct but I think it depends on your salary ie. You both have to work but both earn less than 100k to get the tax free childcare

Depends what your companies enhanced maternity policy is. But usually last 3 months are unpaid.

Yes tax free childcare, but the 30 hours are funded not free, usually you still have a small nursery bill to pay depending on where you send them

Apply for child benefit asap as you can only backdate it 6 weeks odd
you can pay into a government scheme which gives you a little money off childcare too

You need to check with your employer, you are correct that you are entitled to statutory until 9 months and then unpaid for a further 3, but you need to check if that’s what your employer does or if it’s more. With benefits it’s entirely dependent on your circumstances and partners income, rent costs etc. Use a benefit calculator they should be able to help you work it out

Nobody can tell you what your enhanced maternity package is but the last 3 months are unpaid

Your employer should have a parental pay and leave policy. Check your contract, employee handbook or other relevant documents.

Your employer might offer enhanced (contractual) maternity pay, but if they don't, the minimum you will get is Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) which is 90% of your salary for the first 6 weeks and then £156.66/week for another 33 weeks after that. If you want to take more than 39 weeks maternity leave, the rest would be unpaid. Alternatively, you could end your maternity leave but use some annual leave (that is accrued during maternity leave) to get full pay while extending your time with baby a bit.

Most people can claim child benefit - you will need to register the birth first, and you have up to 3 months to claim (not 6 weeks as a PP said). It can be backdated to the date of baby's birth.

As for whether or not you will be entitled to other benefits, this depends on your circumstances. You might be able to get some Universal Credit - this depends if you have a partner, how much you (both) earn, whether you (both) have any savings, whether you rent, and other factors.

If and when you return to work, you may be able to get help with childcare costs through Universal Credit (if eligible), but if not you are likely to be eligible for Tax Free Childcare instead.

And yes once your child turns 3 - well, the term after they do - you should get 30 hours a week funded childcare (term time only). You need to be working to qualify. If the child has a SAHP they would only get 15 hours a week.