Statutory Maternity Pay

[slc1980]

Hi, I've got a question regarding Statutory Maternity Pay. My expected due date is 31/03/2019 and I am planning to work right up to this date (if possible). If I give birth on or before my due date I will be on the current rate of £145.18 per week SMP (after the initial 6 weeks of 90% etc). If the government increases the SMP to take effect from 1st April 2019, does that mean I will get £145.18 up to 31st March then go onto the new rate from 1st April, or will my initial £145.18 still stand throughout my maternity leave because my baby was born before 1st April? Sorry if I sound thick but everywhere I google this question doesn't provide the answer on this. So just wondered if any mom's that have previously been on maternity leave when an increase took place got the new increased rate part way through their leave or not. Thanks in advance xx

I don’t know for sure but I think it would stay at the current rate.
I’ve just been sent my May pay details from work and it has the current rate being paid past the end of March.
On the flip side if they reduce the rate I don’t think it would apply to people already on Mat leave.

I think it would just stay the same, I went on ML with DD in December right through to the following January. The rate went up but my pay still stayed the same.

Thank you both for your replies. So I suppose if my baby was born late I would get the increased rate (if there is an increase) or do you know if it's based on your due date anyway rather than the actual birth date? Not even ACAS could answer my question.

I think it depends when your qualifying week falls which is the 15th week before your due date. They then calculate your pay based on your earnings in the 8 weeks before this date. There's a handy tool on the GOV.uk website which is actually for employers but it details exactly how much you will receive and the schedule of payments www.gov.uk/maternity-paternity-calculator which might help you. I'm on a commission based job so this was really handy for me.

I don’t know if this is the same for all professions, but in teaching I seem to remember that they pay you maternity leave from the Sunday before your due date!

Definitely based on due date rather than actual birth. It states this on the government website.

Where have you seen that it's being increased op? I haven't seen this anywhere and just had a quick Google and couldn't find anything either

If it helps, maybe take your first week off as a holiday instead of maternity and it will definitely push you into the next tax year then.
I work in payroll and the maternity pay will start from the first day you have off (not necessarily based on due date or birth date) or after holiday if you choose to do that first. I don't think I've ever actually come across anyone having maternity over an increase period but I would have thought it would increase for you too. But I can't be 100% on that.