Mat B form

[notdueforages]

Hello,

I saw my midwife yesterday and she gave me the MatB form to pass to my employer. Am I right in thinking that I fill it in and then I can't give it to my employer until I am 25 weeks pregnant (i.e. 15 weeks before due date)? I'm also not clear as to what it is for; it says it's for SMP so does that mean that the first 6 weeks I get at 90% of my salary is maternity pay and then the money I get that takes me up to 6 months is SMP?

Sorry if these are silly questions but I do want to make sure I understand it correctly

Not an expert, but as I understand it, employers have to pay you SMP provided that you've been employed with them for the right length of time before you're 25 weeks pregnant.

They can claim back most of the SMP they pay out from the government. The employer needs the MATB1 form to organise your SMP. SMP is 90% of salary for the first 6 weeks, then £135.45 per week for the next 33 weeks (or 90% of your salary, if that's lower). You have to tell your employer that you want to take statutory maternity leave at least 15 weeks before the baby's due - this is normally when you'd give them the MATB1 form. You can give them notification, and the MATB1 form, earlier if you want to.

Your employer can choose to pay out more in maternity pay, but SMP is the legal minimum that the employer has to pay.

Thanks Purple, that's exactly the pay I'll be getting. I'm at work tomorrow so I'll giveit to them thenn.

Actually, have just re-read your post and my undertanding is that SMP is 90% of salary for 6 weeks and then £135.45 until you have been off for 6 months. Then they don't have to pay you anything for the last 6 months but have to hold your job for you (or an equivalent)

25 weeks is the latest you can give it to your employer, so you can give it as soon as you've got it. If your DP is taking paternity then he also needs to notify his employers by 25 weeks, and some want to see a copy of the MAT1B form so find out if he needs it before you hand it over.

You get SMP for 9 months, it's only the last 3 months that are unpaid.

Just make sure that you give written notice of the day you want your maternity leave to start so they can sort out your pay to start from then, the matB1 is just a confirmation of your due date but they do need to copy it and keep it on file if u have HR and stuff, I think they also use it to claim the pay back. :)

gov.uk overview of SMP

See above link - SMP is definitely paid for 39 weeks, i.e. 9 months.

Technically you can give it to your Employer later than 25 weeks (I believe this is so that if you don't realise you're pregnant til late on your not discriminated against), but you are meant to inform your employer by 25 weeks.

Where I am they give you the MATB1 AT the 25 check so I'm surprised to hear you should give it before then, not that this affects me as I'll be claiming MA as self-employed

I would recommend photocopying it. DHs work hasn't asked for it yet, but just in case!
Most places are happy as long as they receive it by 25 weeks. At my work I had to hand it in with a company document detailing when I wish to finish, how long I would like off etc so might be worth thinking about all that before you hand it in.