NHS Maternity Pay Forecast

[Spanielowner]

Slightly panicking here!

I’m 37 weeks pregnant and have yet to receive my maternity pay forecast from Payroll. I have been chasing them for MONTHS. I last had a reply from them on 23rd June to say they were just starting the forecasts for July and would get mine out to me the following week. Of course that never happened.

Unfortunately I neglected to chase last week after having not received the forecast as had a lot in in final preparations for baby and it slipped my mind. Anyway, I am now a mere four working days from commencing my maternity leave on 18th July and I still have not received my forecast!

As a result, I haven’t yet been able to indicate to them whether I would like my occupational pay spread over 9 or 12 months. I know someone else in my team had their maternity pay completely effed up by payroll’s incompetence so I’m rather anxious at the moment that the next year is going to be unnecessarily difficult financially as a result.

Any advice as to what I should do? I have of course sent further emails to chase the forecast and find out next steps. Is there someone higher up I might be able to contact for assistance if they haven’t completed the forecast or if they’ve gotten it wrong? Any stories from anyone where things have actually gone ok after something like this? Last thing I need right now is to be feeling stressed about all of this…!

Thanks all in advance!

They effed up my maternity leave pay before I had my baby, too! Hadn't been given my second lot of paperwork as I (on paper!) wasn't on their system as being employed by my local NHS....🤣 all was sorted in the end, though.

Screw emailing - phone them! They can dodge an email, or forget about it. They can't do that on the phone. Do you have a union rep who could help chase things, too?

Highlight wether or not you want your pay spread over 12 months on that call, too. Don't stress - it will get sorted.

Had similar when I was in the NHS. They didn't pay me any mat pay, despite LOTS of chasing, until 6 weeks into my leave. Was so stressful.

Ask for the manager of HRs email address and escalate the issue. It's unacceptable.

Thank you both for your quick replies. I’m going to phone them this morning ASAP. It’s just ridiculous how they can get away with messing things up for so many people! The incompetence is just insane, especially as I don’t work for fun - I actually need to be paid to survive! 🤦🏻‍♀️ (As is true for us all but you know what I mean!)