Second maternity leave pay

[Birchgirl]

Hello I was just looking for some advice. I hope this makes sense and sorry if it sounds abit rambly

I'm due back from maternity leave in 6 weeks time. I will be returning to work full time even though I really would like to do part time. Unfortunately this isn't an option right now due to financial reasons.

The plan was to go back full time for 8 months (or there abouts) and then go part time. However DH has mentioned trying for dc number 2 next year which is what I want too.

The issue is that would mean I wouldnt be able to go part time as early as I would like as we would need the full time maternity pay.

So I suppose my question is that if I was to reduce my hours during my pregnancy would I receive full time maternity pay or part time?

I hope this makes sense!

Maternity pay is based on your earnings in week 17-25 of pregnancy I think (you might want to google the exact weeks!) So basic, overtime, bonus - anything earned in that 2 month period is what goes into calculating your average weekly pay.

Do you additional maternity pay or just statutory?

Unless your OMP is 100% it doesn't really make much difference. I had ft OMP on baby 1, and 60% OMP on baby 2, it didn't really make much difference after tax etc.
Obviously ignore this if you are a super high earner.

I have enhanced maternity leave and I'm on minimum wage so not a super high earner unfortunately haha

I'm on 40k, and I hardly noticed a drop. Honestly, go back part time if that's what you want to do. Working, having a toddler and being pregnant is hard work.

Your mat pay is based on the two months or 8 weeks of pay received before your 15th week before confinement (due date). Personally if planning a baby sokn I would stay full time until after baby number two.

We worked out which months my first two months back would be to work out when to start trying for number two and so was 6 weeks pregnant when I went back. As I was only going back for limited time I was able to use annual leave to work 4 days a week.

I don't think I've examined myself very well, I'm so sorry.

Basically, for arguments sake, say if I went back full time for 8 months then got pregnant and reduced my hours would my enhanced maternity pay (which is full pay for 13 weeks then SMP) be based on my full time hours or because I've changed my hours would it be based in my part time hours?

Once so sorry If I'm not making sense. I know what I mean but it's so hard to put it into words haha

@trilbydoll has answered you above.

I think it depends on your work, my enhanced maternity pay (6 months full pay) is based on my contractual pay at the time I go on maternity leave. So if i was to go part time prior to my leave, I'd be taking the lower pay for those 6 months. I'd check your local maternity leave policies.

Whatever you earn for weeks 17 - 25 of your pregnancy. So if you are part time then the occupational element of your pay will reduce.
But if you are talking an extra 7 weeks of minimum wage pay I'm not sure how much difference that will actually make, averaged over the mat leave, compared to the benefits of part time working. Only you can decide.

Fast forward to going back to work after baby #2, what's your childcare plan? If you need the difference between full and part time pay now, can you afford 2 lots of childcare fees (if applicable?). This is the main reason we still only have 1.

So if I reduced my hours after week 25 I would have already 'qualified' for full time maternity pay? Is that right? Sorry for sounding dim.

In terms of childcare we would be fine. When I say I'm going back full time due to finincial reasons it's only so that we can finish renovating our house, pay off debts ect. Basically if I went part time straight away we would be financially OK but wouldnt be able to do those things. It's just the thought of going back full time for over a year makes me anxious.

But I suppose its something I may have to do If I want to do the things I mentioned above and have another child.

Anyone?

Yes, whatever your earnings in week 17-25 that's what your mat pay is based on. So you could go part time after week 25.

Another way to do it is use holiday to have one day a week off so you get full time pay without working full time - might be worth considering if you've got another mat leave coming up and your employer is happy with it.

The statutory element of your maternity pay would be based on your earnings in week 17-25. That's the 90% for six weeks and statutory £135ish for the remaining weeks.

The contractual element of your maternity pay - anything your employer chooses to pay above that - will depend on your HR policy. For me, it's literally what I'm doing the day before I go on mat leave. So noone here can tell you, you need to look at your employer's policy.

OK thank you all so much! X

For most employers, only the statutory element will be based on your pay from weeks 17-25. The enhanced part for my employer is based on my hours when I start my maternity leave. So (as an example) if I dropped to part time hours at 32 weeks, I would only get the enhanced pay up to that part time wage, not my previous full time wage.

My CMP is based on the hours I am doing when my maternity leave starts. If I’m full time I get full time pay, part time is part time pay. This is different to SMP. You need to read your company policy for clarity

My employer also based company may pay on earnings week 17-25. As others have said though, worth checking your employers policy.

The money I would receive from my employer would be based on my hours ie part time or full time. SMP is different and to be honest not sure how that’s worked out.
The comment about using annual leave/holidays is a good idea if you have enough and could always start maternity leave couple weeks early. My work used to give 6 months full pay and 3 months half with SMP then I think it was only SMP or nothing, was 6 years ago.
Just discovered yesterday it’s all changed, I’m 27 weeks just now. Been changed to 6 weeks full, followed by 20 I think half with SMP and then another few weeks just SMP so think it works out I’ll be getting less now.

Thank you everyone.

I'll have to have a good read of my employers policy. I just thinking I'm wishfull thinking lol