Have I calculated my maternity pay correctly?

[Toastytoes1]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (especially NHS employees) can help offer reassurance that I’ve worked out my maternity pay correctly. I’m the very bottom of band 7 (so £37,525), I currently bring home just under £2200 a month after tax and I think if I take 12 months (which I’m hoping to), spread evenly I should bring home about £1040 a month. If I were to only take 9 months I worked it out at £1390 a month (spread evenly again). I do have full entitlement as I’ve worked for the NHS for 6 years now.
Does this sound about right to anyone else in a similar situation? My husband works full time but is self employed with very erratic income; it always works out in the end but we rely on my stable income so I’m just trying to make sure I’m not wildly overestimating what I’ll get as I’ll have to go back to work full time after mat leave so would really love to be able to take the full 12 months if I can. Please don’t think I’m being rude in asking; I’m the first of my friends to have a baby so genuinely just don’t know and I think I’ve worked it out correctly but would hate to have to cut my leave short because I got it wrong.
I’m still only 12 weeks so am trying to make sure I put aside the savings we’ll need but this pregnancy came as a (wonderful) surprise so we’re starting with zero savings and preparation so have a lot of adjustments to make.

Hi, I’m also a band 7, I’m a bit ahead of you as I’m 34 weeks now - 2 weeks left at work! It sounds roughly right, I did contact my HR team and asked for a cost breakdown as it does slightly vary from month to month depending on how long the month is. I also asked for one statement for if I took 9 months off compared to 12 months, I’ve opted to go for the 12 month option. Once you’ve submitted you MATB1 form and the NHS maternity form ask for a statement so you can be sure you’re making the right decision for you.
I’m also carrying 12 days annual leave over with me, plus you will be entitled to the bank holidays that happen when you’re on leave. So if we are struggling a bit I can ‘return to work’ but be on annual leave.

Thank you, that’s very helpful, I didn’t realise you could get a statement from them so that will definitely be helpful when I’m a bit further along.
I hope your last 2 weeks at work go smoothly and congratulations! Not long to go at all now!

Your calculations sound right to me. Don’t forget though you will also have accrued annual leave to take. If you take 12 months total leave then you will get 5-6 weeks of that (whatever your entitlement is) paid full time as leave instead of the unpaid maternity leave so that will put your average monthly pay up by roughly £275 a month.

Hi OP.
Congratualtions on your pregnancy.
I've had 2 pregnancies whilst working in the NHS and am my works go to on all things pay related for some reason. I think because I have always been poor, I've worked hard to try and make sure there are no suprises in my pay!

There are some things to consider if you are spreading your payments over 9 or 12 months - your first 8 weeks pay will be significantly reduced. It is the OMP that is spread over the months. The SMP can not be. This means your total gross pay would breakdown in the following ways - first 8 weeks OMP £5773.07. Next 18 weeks £6494.71 OMP and £2676.24. Final 13 weeks SMP £1932.74. (Don't forget you will get your increment also so that will increase your OMP).

If you know the dates of your maternity leave, you can use the details above to calculate more exactly, as if your maternity start date doesn't coinside with how you are paid then you will have some normal pay along with full OMP in the first month, then full OMP in the 2nd month, amd potentially some full OMP, half OMP and SMP in the 3rd month (plus other combinations of the above!).

Use a tax calculator and put 9.3% in for pension if you pay it. That will give you accurate figures on all the different combinations.

Personally I chose to have it paid as it came. I used my first 2 months pay to put away with some money I'd saved in pregnancy towards the final stretch of unpaid leave. I also got some tax refunds paid in the last 3 months automatically through payroll.

Re: your figures, I think they are slightly low. But yes it is best to err on the side of caution with these things.