Maternity Pay. What to do?

[NovA08]

Hello

Just been paid my first Maternity pay.

My employer pays less than the Government per month for Maternity leave.
(Government pays £736.12 and Employer pays £687.19 , for 16 and half hours per week).
My question is, since im unsure if i will go back to the same job, am i just better off handing my notice so i can claim that little bit extra from the government?

Or have i missed something? because it seems odd that the employer is giving less because, then would that give a lot of people the incentive to resign from their jobs.

You won't get any maternity pay if you make yourself unemployed.

I'm not sure what benefits/UC you would be entitled to though.
The Government maternity pay is for people that work full time, which is why you are entitled to less.

You should start at 90% of your average earnings as smp. Is it full four weeks since you went on ml?

They are not giving less that is the maximum MA figure you are using rather than 90% of your earnings. They use the lesser amount.

You’re misunderstanding OP. You don’t get that amount from the government as SMP if you don’t earn that amount.

So SMP is:

6 weeks at 90% of your average weekly earnings.

33 weeks at £184.04 OR 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

Your earnings are less so you are not entitled to the £184

Resigning on your mat leave is the worst idea ever unless you are planning to be a SAHP.
plus of course you don’t get more money by resigning now.

If you're on statutory maternity pay you should get 90% salary for 6 weeks. Then you get £184 or 90% salary per week for the remaining 33 weeks (you get whichever is the lowest amount).
I thought you would lose your mat pay if you resign during mat leave but it actually looks like you can still get SMP from your old employer unless you get a new job. This website may be helpful.
https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/resigning-from-your-job-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/#Resigning_from_your_job_during_or_after_maternity_leave

Thank you all!
@ThatMrsM and i apricate the link.

My husband has said i can stay home with the little one until its time for Nursery. So im still weighing up the option to resign regardless of pay amount. But i do have a clearer picture what i would receive for the next year which is basically the same no matter what i do.
I think for a few months at least, it would be best to keep my options open with my current employer for now.

@Oreosareawful you do still get SMP even if resigned. Depends how long you been working etc.. :)

You're better off remaining employed even if you don't intend on returning to work because you continue to accrue holidays for the time you are on leave.