Maternity leave

[ScatterBrain912]

I'm just wanting to see if someone can clarify the maternity leave with my employer for me. (FTM so sorry for loads of questions 😬)

I am currently 27+5weeks due date 26th September.
I told my employer I was pregnant at 7 weeks.
I gave my Mat B1 form to them when I was 23 weeks.
I have had no chat with them about when my maternity leave will start, they do not know when I am thinking of starting it.
If I am still owed annual leave am I entitled to take that (by adding it onto the start of my maternity leave) before I go on maternity?

The other thing is, as I understand it, my maternity leave pay is calculated from my average earnings in the 8 weeks before the end of my 25th week of pregnancy. If this is correct it will be calculated on my furlough pay. Should they be using the 80% or 100% of pay for those 8 weeks? I'm just a little bit concerned as they are a small company, as far as I'm aware I'm the first in a long time that has has to go off on maternity, and would like to get all of my ducks in a row first before I go and talk to them.

I don't even know how much annual leave I'm owed at the moment. I get it's all been a bit of uproar in the past 3 months but I'm just worrying I guess.

Thank you to anyone that can help.

At my company it was my responsibility to raise when I wanted to start maternity leave. I gave them my date at 25 weeks, I asked hr around the same time what would happen with to unused annual leave. I would contact hr or whoever manages your annual leave.

It was my responsibility to say when I wanted to start mat leave and I was allowed to add annual leave to the beginning (and then any accrued during the year off onto the end).

Regarding the pay...I’m not sure as it’s furlough so you’d be best speaking to your HR team

If you want to go in for armed with advice, I think there are some maternity charities that may be able to help with advice. Or citizens advice maybe?

You need to tell them when you want leave to start. You then discuss what happens with your accrued holidays - might take before leave or after it. If weeks 17-25 were furlough weeks then I think pay should be calculated on your normal wages rather than the 80% you get on furlough pay

www.gov.uk/government/news/furloughed-workers-to-receive-full-parental-leave-entitlement

www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/how-to-claim

Thank you for clarifying that I need to start the conversation with them. It's a small family run business so there is no "HR team" I'll just speak to the lady I gave my form to and see what she says.
Thank you @dementedpixie for the furlough link, u couldn't find it for the life of me, I'll mention this also when I talk to her about my start date just so it's clarified with everyone what's happening.