Half mat pay query

[Lalamum2]

Hello!

Could someone please advise because I’m finding maternity pay a bit confusing!!

I was informed yesterday that my mat pay will be

13 weeks full pay
13 weeks half pay
13 weeks SMP
13 weeks no pay

The 13 weeks half pay will work out about £500 a month, so less than SMP, is that right? I can see some threads saying you can get SMP too, some saying you’ll get half pay and the SMP will top you up, some saying you’ll just get half pay.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

Thank you in advance

You can’t be paid less than SMP so it will either actually be SMP or SMP + 50%

the only way to get it clarified is to ask your employer

It would depend on your earnings - half pay would only be less than £500 pm if you were part time I would think? Most workplace maternity packages will incorporate SMP into their maternity packages so if your gross pay was less than SMP it would be topped up. Best to check with your employer though to be sure.

This isn’t correct because SMP isn’t actually a set figure.

SMP for the first 6 weeks is 90% of average weekly earnings before tax.

SMP for the following 33 weeks is either £184.03 OR 90% of your average weekly earnings- whichever is lower is what you get. You do not just automatically get the £184.

OP earns £1000 a month. So would qualify for the £184.