Sick pay or pregnancy related illness affecting maternity?

[Sunshine8920]

I'm waiting for a call from occupational health On Thursday. I've been googling about maternity pay/leave too.
I was recommended by my anaesthetics consultant to take advice on whether my time off work should be put down as pregnancy related or normal sick.
My timetable at work is currently reduced as I've been struggling a bit.
I got in a muddle over what the consultant said, what should I be saying in order to protect my maternity.
does anyone know what I should do or what she was on about?? xx

Weeks 17-25 affect maternity pay amount so depends how pregnant you are. It doesnt matter what they mark it as in relation to pay if the amount you get for each is the same. Pregnancy related illness cant count against you but I imagine the sick pay you get would be the same

take a look on the Maternity Action website. Lots of useful info on there

@dementedpixie thanks for That :-) I am currently 24 weeks and I literally spent the first three months signed off work but on full pay. So now I'm really confused ha ha

@squee123 thanks I'll check it out :-)

If it’s pregnancy related then it can’t count against you in terms of sick leave. However, you don’t decide-it’s whatever in your sick note. I was signed off at 31 and 34 weeks (I’m assuming you are a teacher?). Maternity leave doesn’t kick in until 36 weeks if it’s pregnancy related (which presumably it is?).

If you were getting full pay then your maternity pay wouldnt be affected then

Okay thank you so much! I find it all so confusing!

They can force you to start maternity leave early if you're signed off at a certain point.

They can only make you start maternity leave early if you are off with a pregnancy related illness in the last 4 weeks I.e. from 36 weeks