Maternity Leave change from 1st April 07

[Mumcab]

Iwas talkng to a girlfriend of mine the other night and she mentioned that she thought the amount of maternity leave that a woman was entitled to was about to increase for women giving birth after the 1st April 07. Has anyone else heard of this as if so it has been kept very quiet. She said that it wouod increase from 6 months to 9 months?? Here's hoping, mines due on 8th April

Yes it is changing from 26 weeks to 39 weeks for babies DUE on or after 01 April 2007. So that will apply to you if you are due on the 8th April.

That is really good news. This is my third and with my ds snd dd I went back to work pretty much soon after, not because i ad to but because i was more careerminded back then. I guess with this one I really do want to spend more time at home with her ad it's nice to know that I can do that without worrying financially.

Nuttygirl is right. Following The Work and Families Act 2006 any baby DUE on or after 1st April will be entitled to almost 9 months of maternity leave. Isn't that great! My third is due on 3rd April so I am the first person at my work to be taking advantage of this change

It would be a real bummer if she decided to come early

It doesn't matter when your baby is born - it is your due date that counts. So even if your baby arrives tomorrow you will still be eligible

I didn't realise that, evn though this is my third it really does feellike starting allover again. There are seven years between all of mine.

will statutory maternity pay be paid for the full 39weeks? I had heard about the change but wasn't sure about the pay side of it. (just being nosey - not pregnant!)

i am not sure about that, I would hope so, or else it wouldn't realy have any significance as you are entitled toa year matenity leave anyway so I would presume this relates to pay????

as far as I was aware, you only got a year's leave if you'd been with your current employer for a year before you started your leave whereas you're entitled to 26weeks leave no matter when you started working... I could be wrong though - that's what I thought the change was, it was to give those who hadn't been in their job long the chance to have longer maternity...

As I say, not sure...

Good stuff isn't it. I have twins due 12 April so will probably be early but we will still benefit

sorry to hjjack but what about paternity leave? is it still the same - 2 crappy weeks!

I am ecstatic about this, last time for me it was 26 weeks. I have heard a rumour though that they get 3 years in France!!!! paid for by the government. Think I'll get a job over there if I decide to have anymore [wink}

Biglips - yup, still the same crappy 2 weeks for paternity... Sux, really...

I miss out on this by about 6 weeks, which is a real bitch.

still, worse for people who miss it by a shorter time, I guess.

thought i'd jus let you know that i work in payroll and yes SMP is paid for the whole 39 weeks. i'm due april the 18th and lovin this change in regulation.

xx

how much do you get if self employed?

The Department of Work and Pensions website has all the info on the new maternity rights.
I was able to print of stuff to give to my employer.