Maternity pay

[Everest1]

Is there anywhere you can go for advice? I get 6 weeks full pay and then SMP for up to 9 months off. Is there any help if youd like a year off? Thank you x

No there isn't. My company do a thing called enhanced maternity pay. I don't get full pay I get 6 weeks at 90% as standard then the rest smp. But with enhanced I get an extra 8 weeks on 90% before dropping to smp. But it's provided I return for 12 weeks at least or I pay back the difference. Then the usual nothing for remaining time

No extra help, no. SMP is SMP.. Tecnically it IS the "help" if you want to have a child.

Unless your employer offers an enhanced package as PP as stated above. These will vary between employers.

If you have a partner, you might also want to look into Shared Parental Leave / Pay with your partner - in case that is of more benefit to you, either once your Mat pay ends or in place of.

Again, some employers will offer enhanced Shared Parental Leave packages.

Actually, the way mine works is thatI have to take annual leave accrued during my mat leave at the end of my mat leave, before I start back in work. This means I am technically taking paid leave on top of my mat leave - which provides help towards taking the full 12 months off.

But this obviously depends on the terms of your employment and employer's maternity policy.

Unfortunately if you want a year off, you get no money for the last three months, most of my mother and baby group are returning to work after nine months off, a few are having a year.

Thanks all x