Maternity pay question for second child

[Madbuttonmum]

Just curious for the future really...

I am due in September and my mother recently said, quite flippantly, "you could be pregnant again by Christmas". I am due to take maternity from September until July. We would like to have another child fairly quickly if we can, but how would that impact my maternity pay? Could I, for example, return to work in July (being roughly 7 months pregnant for the second time) and then take maternity leave and pay again in the September?

All I can find online is that you have to be employed for so long and between certain weeks, but if you are on maternity leave, does that count?

Does anyone know the answer to this?

Being on maternity does count as employment. Remember SMP is based on how much you earn before you're off so if you're still on maternity it'll be based on that. You'll end up getting less second time round.

To qualify you do have to return to work, even if only for a day as far as I understand.

Some companies may have a clause in their contracts (normally to do with enhanced mat pay not SMPu) that you cannot receive it twice in a certain period. Just take a look at your contract to check.

I think some places make you go back for 3 months, I think teachers have to do that, I may be wrong.

I would leave it so you to back for at least 3 months before going back off!

Places with enhanced maternity pay can have their own rules but they can't offer less than you'd get with SMP

We've had people take annual leave after their maternity leave and then go straight back on to maternity leave. We have an enhanced package. One person at least has had over 2 years off.

At my work (we get enhanced mat pay) you need to return to work for at least 3 months to qualify for it, or you have to pay it back.

There are two issues.

SMP - You are eligible regardless of whether you are on maternity leave, but it will be calculated based on your earnings in the relevant window (which is during your second trimester). If you are on SMP or unpaid maternity leave in that period, you may get low or no SMP.

Company enhanced pay - if your employer offers enhanced pay, you need to check the rules of the scheme. It can say what it wants about eligibility.